A Charlie Appleby 1-2 punch will be tough to overcome in the $750,00 Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday.
The British trainer sends out the two favorite – even-money choice Silver Knott and 7-5 Measured Time—in a field of six going 1 ½ miles.
The Sword Dancer is one of five Grade 1s on the Travers Day card, and the winner earns an all-fees paid, automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
Measured Time leaves from post 2 under William Buick and is coming off a two-length victory over stablemate Nations Pride in the 1 3/16 miles Manhattan (G1) at Saratoga on June 8. The 4-year-old Godolphin homebred has won three of his last four and is 8-6-1-0 overall for earnings of $1,279,650.
“We feel he should appreciate it [increased distance],” Appleby said. “We’re therefore hopeful that we could see even more improvement from him.”
Silver Knott, also owned by Godolphin, is on a three-race win streak (all Grade 2s), all with Flavien Prat aboard. Prat has the call again leaving from post 4. The 4-year-old gelding took the Bowling Green over Soldier Rising by 2 ½ lengths on July 28.
“Silver Knott is tried and tested, as we well know,” Appleby. “He goes there in great shape. We thought he deserved to have another crack at Grade 1 company. He’s in there if by any chance that Measured Time doesn’t happen to see the trip out, he’s guaranteed to.
“We have two very live players, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Christophe Clement also has a pair of entries in Bowling Green runner-up Soldier Rising (8-1) and Far Bridge (8-1).
Soldier Rising has a knack for finishing second – the 6-year-old gelding was a runner-up in his last four races (including the 2023 Sword Dancer) and has finished second in 11 of 22 starts (with four wins).
“He is a very hard-trying horse. He always shows up and runs his race. People like to poke fun at him for running second, but there aren’t many horses out there who are as consistent as he is.” Clement said.
The Sword Dancer is race 9 on the 14-day card, with a post time of 3:44 p.m. ET.
For those who bet horse racing ... here are the picks:
1 Soldier Rising (Jose Ortiz, Christophe Clement), 8-1
2 Measured Time (William Buick, Charlie Appleby), 7-5
3 Far Bridge (Joel Rosario, Christophe Clement), 8-1
4 Silver Knott (Flavien Prat, Charlie Appleby), 1-1
5 Pioneering Spirit (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Linda Rice), 20-1
6 Grand Sonata (Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher), 10-1
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
