Legend of Time hoping now’s the time in G2 Pennine Ridge
At 1h44, on May 25, 2024 • By BELMONT@BIG A
Godolphin’s British-bred Legend of Time seeks his first stateside score versus a field of six rivals in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge, a nine-furlong outer turf test for sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.
The first three finishers of the Pennine Ridge will receive an automatic invitation to the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational, a 1 3/16-mile turf test for sophomores on Saturday, July 6th, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, the Sea The Stars bay made his stateside debut last-out in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf on May 4 at Churchill Downs. There, he went off as the post-time favorite and stalked from second position, nearly making the lead in the stretch before giving way late en route to a fifth-place finish.
Appleby’s traveling assistant Chris Connett is currently overseeing seven Godolphin-owned horses at their Greentree property in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. located adjacent to Saratoga Race Course, including Legend of Time as well as Silver Knott, Nations Pride, Master of the Seas, Musical Act, English Rose and Mischief Magic. An additional fleet of Appleby runners is expected to arrive in New York on Friday to prepare for starts at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.
Connett said Legend of Time, who exited post 4-of-14 in the Grade 2 American Turf on a bustling Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill, performed admirably to finish fifth in his stateside debut.
“It wasn’t an ideal draw and he had to be handy. I think the team thought there would be a bit more pace in the race than there was,” Connett said. “It was a big learning curve in that first race at Churchill, but he shipped up to Saratoga and settled in here at Greentree really nicely. He’s really settled into a nice rhythm here and we’re very happy with the way he’s going into the race.”
Legend of Time won 4-of-5 starts overseas in a campaign that saw him score thrice at Meydan Racecourse including the seven-furlong Jumeirah Guineas Trial in January, the one-mile Jumeirah Guineas in February and the nine-furlong Jumeirah Classic in March.
“He ran the three times out there in Dubai, stepping up in trip each time. He’s a horse that was highly regarded in the U.K. last year,” Connett said. “It seems the further he steps up; we’re finding improvement in him.”
Connett said the versatile Legend of Time will be a good fit with Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, who will have the call for the first time Saturday from post 2.
