Francesco Clemente Flies Late in William L. McKnight

Following the Irish-bred's impressive come-from-behind victory in the $200,000 William L. McKnight Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park, trainer Chad Brown called Francesco Clemente  "a serious horse" for the 2024 turf season.

Since joining Brown's stable during the summer of 2023, Brown thought Francesco Clemente had talent, but wasn't quite sure he'd be able to handle the grueling 1 1/2-mile distance. The 5-year-old son of Dubawi , stakes-placed in England, had done his best running overseas at the 1 1/4-mile trip. However, two starts and a win later, Francesco Clemente gave the 1 1/2 miles a try in the Nov. 24 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar.

Rallying late, Francesco Clemente fell a neck short of catching Planetario .

"He was an unlucky loser last time out in California," Brown said.

Francesco Clemente would get up in time in the McKnight. While F Five  and Cellist  dueled through a torrid pace up front, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had Francesco Clemente racing in second-to-last behind fractions of :23.88, :47.99, and 1:12.10. Circling eight-wide turning for home, Francesco Clemente blasted by his rivals widest of all down the lane and drew off by 2 1/4 lengths under the wire.

The Peter Brant homebred, sent off as the post-time favorite, stopped the clock in a blazing 2:22.64 over a firm turf course. The final time was .01 second off the Gulfstream track record.

He returned $6.40.

Starting Over , a 41-1 shot, and F Five  completed the trifecta.

What They Said

"I was (happy to see those splits). I thought my other horse (Stone Age) would break and be up a little closer but I didn't mind the pace at all. My only concern at the 3/8ths pole was could he get around all those horses in time," Brown said.