By Alan Carasso
Looking to atone for a disappointing fifth-place effort as the favorite in the GII American Turf S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard May 4, Godolphin's Legend of Time (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) left it for late in Saturday's GII Pennine Ridge S., but produced a stinging late turn of speed and attacked the wire to earn his first victory at the graded/group level.
Favored at 9-10, the 150,000gns Tattersalls October purchase looked to bobble at the break and was therefore settled at the rear of the field by Joel Rosario as the rail-drawn White Palomino (Kitten's Joy) took a well-bunched sextet through sensible fractions. Unhurried at the back of the field and ground-saving throughout, Legend of Time was popped the question in earnest nearing the stretch, but was flat-footed for a stride or two with a furlong and a half to race. Asked to split rivals with time ticking away, he was along in the final couple of jumps. Royal Majesty (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the son of former Grade I-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Crown Queen (Smart Strike), rode the rails every step of the opening seven furlongs, but exchanged bumps with Triple Espresso (Omaha Beach) in upper stretch and flashed home for third once into the clear.
It was a second graded win at the meet for Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby, who teamed with Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) to take out the GII Man O'War S. May 11.
Having overcome trouble to win his Haydock debut over a mile last September, Legend of Time was fifth of 12 in the G3 Tattersall S. at Newmarket three weeks later and was part of the Appleby team at this year's Dubai World Cup Carnival. Perfect in three starts at Meydan, including the Listed Jumeirah Classic Mar. 2, he raced freely and without cover in the American Turf and weakened in the final furlong to finish five lengths adrift of the victorious Trikari (Oscar Performance).
“Joel [Rosario] had him in a nice rhythm and he was nice and relaxed compared to his last run at Churchill,” said traveling assistant trainer Chris Connett. “That's what Charlie was hoping for–to get him in a good and relaxed rhythm. We know he's a horse that always finishes off his races really strongly, so we had every confidence in Joel.”
Pedigree Notes:
Legend of Time is a 72nd worldwide graded/group winner for the outstanding Sea The Stars and his fourth such winner in this country, joining Godolphin's Ottoman Fleet (GB), second in defense of his title in the GII Fort Marcy S. earlier this month, Star Fortress (Ire) and Casual Smile (GB).
Legend of Time is one of six winners from as many to race from his dam, third in the 2010 G1 Moyglare Stud S. for Lady O'Reilly and Kevin Prendergast before winning the Waya S. and finishing third in the GIII Glens Falls S. in 2012 for Three Chimneys Racing and Trevor Harris and trainer Roger Attfield. Returned to Europe, Kissable was sold to Lordship Stud and Kern Lillingston Association for 180,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale and she has produced two stakes horses in addition to Legend of Time–the G1 Prix de Royallieu (3000m) winner Loving Dream (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), a paternal granddaughter of Sea The Stars's half-brother Galileo (Ire); and Amandine (GB) (Shamardal), winner in this country of the Lady of Shamrock S. and third in the 2018 GI American Oaks.
Should connections opt for longer trips for Legend of Time, they would be encouraged by his champion third dam Eva Luna (Alleged), a Group 3 winner over an extended 14-furlong trip whose son Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells) won the G1 St Leger S. in 2003. The latter's half-brother Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) was a winner of the Leger prep, the G2 Great Voltigeur S., and was third in the Leger while also finishing runner-up to St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Turf.
Kissable is the dam of a yearling filly by Kildangan Stud's Night of Thunder (Ire).
LEGEND OF TIME wins the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes under @JRosarioJockey for trainer Charlie Appleby and @godolphin! pic.twitter.com/JLvr986meG
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) May 25, 2024
Saturday, Belmont The Big A
PENNINE RIDGE S.-GII, $200,000, Belmont The Big A, 5-25, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.73, fm.
1–LEGEND OF TIME (GB), 122, c, 3, by Sea The Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Kissable (Ire) (SW & GSP-USA, G1SP-Ire, $225,919), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
2nd Dam: Kitty O'Shea (GB), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Eva Luna, by Alleged
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (150,000gns Ylg '22 TATOCT).
O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc
(GB); T-Charles Appleby; J-Joel Rosario. $110,000. Lifetime
Record: SW-UAE, 7-5-0-0, $393,771. *1/2 to Loving Dream
(GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), G1SW-Fr, GSW-Eng, $359,882 and
Amandine (GB) (Shamardal), SW & GISP, $151,584. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–White Palomino, 118, c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Wolf Gourmet,
by Flatter. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O-James J. Bakke and Gerald Isbister; B-Bakster Farms (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown. $40,000.
3–Royal Majesty (GB), 118, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Crown Queen,
by Smart Strike. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O/B-Besilu Stables LLC (GB); T-William I. Mott. $24,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 0.90, 4.90, 3.45.
Also Ran: Cable Ready, St James the Great, Triple Espresso. Scratched: Risk Tolerance (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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