Godolphin and trainer Bill Mott are sitting in as envious a spot as anyone two months before the Breeders’ Cup. Already entering the year with reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty pointing to the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), they now have a second top contender in Knightsbridge after he dominated the field in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 22 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
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The impressive victory in the 5-year-old’s debut at 1 1/4 miles earned him an automatic berth to the Longines Classic through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions with fees paid into a corresponding race of the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held at Keeneland Oct. 30-31.
A son of 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Nyquist, Knightsbridge has always been well thought of as a talented runner. A series of setbacks sent the early years of his career through several starts and stops, but his Hall of Fame conditioner has been able to keep him on the track and in top form as he’s gotten older. Still, up until last month, his talents had only been tested around one turn. That changed July 18 when he stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in the Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) and dominated his foes by 10 1/4 lengths.
That earned Knightsbridge the opportunity to test himself on the road to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Shipping across the country from his New York base to California, he was more than ready for the challenge. The final margin of victory, 6 1/4 lengths, was impressive enough, but even more so was the fact he dueled through fast fractions with 2024 Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano (ARG) for the first mile before drawing away in the stretch. Showing no signs of fatigue and with jockey Junior Alvarado sitting chilly in the saddle, he finished in a solid 2:01.79. Original Sin, who was last early, closed to beat Full Serrano for second.
With two sensational performances around two turns and the 1 1/4-mile box checked, the Godolphin homebred is now positioned to be one of the leading choices in this year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and will have to opportunity to prove himself against the best of the best, including his own stablemate.
Sorrento Sky Flies Late to Take Green Flash
While Knightsbridge was impressive leading over a long distance, the much shorter Green Flash Handicap (G2) featured an impressive last-to-first run by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman, and Michael Nentwig’s Sorrento Sky (IRE) earlier in Del Mar’s Saturday card. That victory sends the 5-year-old Prince of Lir (IRE) gelding, trained by Phil D’Amato, to the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) through the Challenge Series.
Sorrento Sky’s turn of foot had been coming up short in recent races, but with expert piloting by Umberto Rispoli it was the key to victory this time. Away slowly from the outside gate in a field of eight, Rispoli let the gelding drop back to last and gradually work over to the rail. With a quarter-mile to go, he fired up the rail to get a jump on the wider favorite Motorious (GB), who was seeking his fourth-straight Green Flash win. With the ground saved, Rispoli gained momentum as he swung to the outside in the stretch and rallied well to defeat No Nay Hudson (IRE) by a length with pacesetter Virat third.
Sorrento Sky, who was bred in Ireland by Colleen Dwyer, completed 5 furlongs in :56.12 for his first graded victory.
That acceleration in the stretch over a short distance is a valuable asset, and should prove dangerous should it transfer to the turf at Keeneland.
