Nations Pride returns to Aqueduct in Saturday's Man o' War

Godolphin’s Irish homebred Nations Pride returns to Aqueduct in search of his sixth graded-group stakes score in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Man o’ War, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for older horses, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the world-traveling Nations Pride has won a graded or group event in four countries, including a pair of scores as a sophomore in the Empire State when capturing the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) and the Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3) at Belmont at the Big A in his most recent New York outing.

Nations Pride arrived in New York on April 28 and has worked three times over the Belmont Park dirt training track, including a half-mile in 49.89 seconds Wednesday, and 50 seconds flat on Saturday under the watchful eye of traveling assistant Christiane Harley.

“He loves to be away from home and to travel around. For a colt, he’s very good,” Harley said. “He loves it. He’s doing really good and has worked well. I have taken him around before, so I know him. He seems as good as he’s always been.”

Nations Pride has more than $2.5 million in earnings through a consistent 15: 9-2-1 record. Frankie Dettori will ride from post 9 with Nations Pride to carry a field-high 124 pounds.

Appleby also will send out Godolphin’s multiple group-graded stakes winner Silver Knott off a win in the Elkhorn (G2) on April 20 at Keeneland when making his seasonal bow. There, he drew clear late to win the 1 1/2-mile test by 1 1/2 lengths. The effort was awarded a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

Trainer Christophe Clement will send out two contenders in graded stakes winner Kertez and multiple graded-stakes winner Tawny Port. Both were training with Clement’s string at Payson Park in Florida before shipping to New York last week.

“Both horses are doing great. They just came in from Florida and they had their first day on the track Saturday and looked good,” Clement said.

Kertez was last seen making his American debut when posting a nose victory in the Pan American (G2) on March 30 at Gulfstream Park, with Tawny Port a neck back in third.

“They both ran very well in the race at Gulfstream,” Clement said. “It won't be easy. The Man o’ War is never easy, but we'll try our best.”

Tawny Port was a prominent third in the Pan American (G2), where he was once again defeated a neck after a strong runner-up effort in Gulfstream’s Mac Diarmida (G2) on March 2 going the Man o’ War distance.

“Tawny Port is a beautiful horse. He's very game,” Clement said. “He's very unlucky not to have won a graded stakes this winter. He's run very well twice. So, we'll try again.”

The Man o’ War is slated as Race 7 on Saturday’s 11-race card.