Siskany, Silver Knott Head Stakes on BC Undercard

The Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup undercard kicks off with the highly anticipated $250,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2), a marathon race covering 1 5/8 miles on the Santa Anita main track. This race features a field of six talented competitors, with the 8-5 morning line favorite being Siskany. Trained by Appleby and bred by Godolphin, Siskany is making his second appearance in the United States and his first attempt on dirt. His previous stateside race was a victorious outing in the $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2T) on June 9, where he triumphed in the two-mile widener turf test for older horses at Belmont Park. In his most recent start, Siskany finished a close third in the prestigious 12-furlong Preis von Europa (G1) at Cologne, Germany on Sept. 24, stepping up to compete in his first grade 1 race. It’s worth noting that Rebel’s Romance, who won the same race last year, went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T).

Coming in as the 5-2 second choice is Salesman, another Dubawi gelding trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella. Salesman, bred by Wertheimer and Frere, is seeking his first graded stakes victory. He recently finished third in the Los Alamitos Special Stakes on Sept. 17, which was his first attempt on dirt. Wertheimer and Frere also have another contender in the race, Serifos, a homebred Into Mischief gelding trained by Graham Motion. Serifos had a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Japan Turf Cup at Laurel on Sept. 30 but had a convincing victory two races back on dirt in the Presious Passion Stakes at Monmouth Park, winning by 3 1/4 lengths.

There are a few other noteworthy contenders in the race. Time for Trouble, a son of English Channel trained by Jeff Hiles and owned by Hiles and Thorndale Stables, has the advantage of the inside rail post. Time for Trouble finished fifth in a one-mile $500,000 Handicap at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 3. He also finished as a well-beaten runner-up to last year’s TAA Stakes winner, Next, in the $150,000 Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga earlier in the summer.

Kiss Today Goodbye, Sondereker Racing’s grade 2 winner, will be making his 14th consecutive graded stakes appearance under the guidance of trainer Eric Kruljac. In his most recent race, he finished second in the Tokyo City (G3) over the Southern California turf.

After the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, the $250,000 Twilight Derby (G2T) will feature thirteen sophomores. Silver Knott, trained by Charlie Appleby and owned by Godolphin, is opting to skip this year’s Breeders’ Cup championships to compete in the Twilight Derby. Despite a lackluster campaign in 2023, Silver Knott, who was narrowly defeated in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), has a chance to shine in this softer spot. He has struggled to find the winner’s circle this year, placing in only two of his four starts. After finishing eleventh in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) to start his season, Silver Knott was shipped to the U.S. He showed promise when finishing third in the Pennine Ridge (G2T) at Belmont Park, but struggled to maintain his form in the Belmont Derby (G1T). After being gelded in late October, Silver Knott has not raced since finishing third in the Secretariat Stakes (G2T) at Colonial Downs on Aug. 12. With jockey William Buick back in the saddle, he could be a tough competitor in the 1 1/8-mile Twilight Derby.

Silver Knott’s biggest threat in the race is Webslinger, a resilient Constitution gelding trained by Mark Casse. Webslinger, making his eighth start of the year, has been on the sidelines since a narrow defeat in the rain-soaked Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) on Aug. 5. Although he has never raced outside of Kentucky, Webslinger should excel on the fast California turf, having already claimed three stakes victories on firm courses.

The local Santa Anita contingent presents a formidable challenge for the shippers. Maltese Falcon, trained by Richard Mandella and winner of the La Jolla (G3T), leads the pack. Seal Team, another Richard Mandella trainee, and Reincarnate, who boasts a turf-heavy pedigree and returns to the grass after a grade 3 victory and grade 1 placement on dirt, add intrigue to the race.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes and the Twilight Derby promise to be exciting races on the Breeders’ Cup undercard.

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Olivia Wilson

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