By Duane Fonseca -
Godolphin’s Ottoman Fleet continued his Stateside cruise with a stunning victory in the Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
In a race that followed his success in the G3 Arlington Stakes at the same venue on June 1, the five-year-old Charlie Appleby-trained gelding was sent out the favourite as he would once again have to negotiate the same 1700m circuit once again.
And Ottoman Fleet did not disappoint as he seized command early on after a level start under jockey Flavien Prat and stayed in front all the way to the finish. Prat was unperturbed by what was happening behind him and needed to nudge the son of Sea The Stars in the straight. Having received his orders Ottoman Fleet stretched out to put nearly three lengths between him and his challengers with Michael Maker’s Chasing The Crown closing in late under Joel Rosario to reduce the deficit to a length and a half. Strong Tide was a further length and a quarter adrift in third for Michael Lauer and Emmanuel Esquivel.
Ottoman Fleet began his five-year-old campaign at Meydan where he placed twice in three starts before being sent back to Britain where he successfully defended his Group 3 Earl Of Sefton title at Newmarket. Dispatched to the US thereafter he appeared distracted during the business end of the Grade 2 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont and finished a neck behind winner Master Piece in second.
But Appleby’s globetrotting genius was back in the winners’ enclosure at the end of the aforementioned Arlington Stakes, which put the added pressure of being the favourite for the Wise Dan.
Victory was a third for Ottoman Fleet in five US starts, with Godolphin America’s Director of Bloodstock Operations, Michael Banahan declaring: “He’s just a lovely horse that has done well in Europe and here in North America.
“He got an easy lead and took what he could get. He galloped all the way to the wire. Being a half-million dollar race the money is nice as well. I’m sure Charlie is happy with that performance. I’m not too sure what will be next for him, but he’ll join the team at Saratoga this summer and find a spot for him likely there.”
