European horses appear to be attracting much of the attention in the $400,000 Man o’ War Stakes (G2T).
The first two that come to mind are Godolphin’s duo National pride And Silver button .
For those with short memories, Nations Pride, a home child of Teofilo won last year’s Canadian International Stakes (G1T) at the Honeysuckle and Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) and Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) in 2022 as a 3-year-old for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Silver Knott is no slouch either. European-born son of Lope de Vega won the Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) April 20 at Keeneland and has placed bets on Grade 1 stakes twice, including the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T)
There is also another start in the 1 3/8-mile turf course on May 11 at Water racetrack with European roots, who happened to have a promising debut in the United States.
Christophe Clement is trained Kertez began his racing career in Europe but preferred to move to American shores when he won the March 30 Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park because of his new connections in said first race in the United States.
Twice a group 2 in Europe last year, he rallied from sixth in the mile-and-a-half Pan American to win by Harry Hood and another neck on the stablemate Tawny Harbor in third place—both would return in groups of nine for Man o’ War.
“He was ranked in the Pan American and still won,” Clement said. He is a beautiful horse with beautiful moves. He made a big impression at Gulfstream.” “The European horses will be tough, but that’s always the way it is. This was always the plan after the race at Gulfstream Park (running in the Man o’ War after the Pan American) and we’ll stick with it. “
Kertez, a 6-year-old castrated boy wisdom , bred by Wertheimer et Frere and purchased and shipped to the United States by the existing connections of Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey and West Point Thoroughbreds. He was purchased for the equivalent of $158,604 at last year’s Arqana-Saint Cloud The Arc Sale after racing for his breeder with previous trainer Andre Fabre.
Harry Hood, owned by Mashnee Stable and trained by Mark Hennig, was claimed $50,000 last year and had his first stake in the Pan American, where the 4-year-old filly entered. First Samurai The gelding moved up from fifth place but fell one place back.
Tawny Port, who is also coached by Clement, has been spotted since moving to the turf. In six tries he won the John’s Call Stakes by four lengths Saratoga Race Course and lost a neck twice starting back in the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T).
Owned by Peachtree Stable, the 5-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile is a multiple Grade 3 winner on dirt.
“He’s very good and can shoot,” Clement said. “He looks really good and has been training really well.”
Item: Man o’ War S. (G2T)
Belmont at Big ASaturday, May 11, 2024, Stage 7
- IIT class
- 1 3/8m
- Pitch
- 400,000 USD
- 4 years old and up
- 3:39 pm (local)
