For Godolphin running coach Charlie Appleby sent to the United States, results are no longer automatic.
Back to 2021, and Appleby’s horses have won in North America at an astonishing rate of 50% (nine wins from 18 starts).
The following year, this number was 8 out of 17, reaching a rate of 47%.
Yet this year, the journey from England to America was not very successful with only 3 wins in 14 tries with a fairly humane win rate of 21%.
The highly regarded European conditioner will try to increase those numbers on May 25 when he ships Godolphin’s Legend of time in the $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T) for 3-year-olds at Water racetrack.
The mile-eight turf stakes serve as a stepping stone to the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) on July 6, providing the top three finishers in the field of seven free bids. It will also give Godolphin the chance to win another Grade 2 in the Big Apple after losing to the Appleby runners in his first two starts in New York in 2024. , Silver button captured the Man o’ War Stakes (G2T) on May 11.
A son of Sea of Stars Legend of Time launches in the US on May 4 at Churchill Downs when he was sent off at 6-5 and chased the pace in the American Turf Stakes (G2T) but faded to fifth, five lengths off the 47-1 winning shot Trikari .
“It was a big learning curve in that first race at Churchill, but he’s moved to Saratoga and settled into life at Greentree really well. He’s really settled into a good rhythm here and we’re very pleased with how he came into the race.” race,” said Chris Connett, Appleby’s assistant coach now at Godolphin’s Greentree training center in Saratoga.
In Dubai and the UK before that, the Lordship Stud and Sunderland Holding-bred colt won four of his five starts but was unseated in his lone try in the stakes group.
The race will also mark the return to turf for Repole Stable and St. Eilas Stable’s Triple espresso .
The son of Omaha Beach finished fourth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on Tapeta last time out for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, a three-time Pennine Ridge winner. Previously, the 3-year-old had finished fourth in the Colonel Liam Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Trainer Chad Brown, another three-time Pennine Ridge champion, will send his first two winners into the competition. Take risks for Klaravich Stables and White Palomino for James Bakke and Gerald Isbister.
ONEKing colt, Risk Tolerance made his debut on April 21 on the turf of Aqueduct by three-quarters of a length. White Palomino prevailed in the first race on April 6 at Keeneland in his second start.
Besilu’ Stables Emperor is coming off an April 13 allowance win at Keeneland. A son of Frankel who began his career overseas, he finished fifth in two starts back to Colonel Liam for trainer Bill Mott.
He was off the Smart Strike horse Queen crown Grade 1 winning half-sister of Hall of Famer Royal Delta.
Item: Pennine Ridge S. (G2T)
Belmont at Big ASaturday, May 25, 2024, Stage 7
- class II
- 1 1/8m
- Grass field outside
- 200,000 USD
- 3 years old
- 3:39 pm (local)
