Navy Seal. (Coady Media)
By Robert Yates
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – She did it again.
Prolific Arkansas broodmare Copperelle was represented by her fourth Oaklawn stakes winner when Navy Seal rallied for an upset victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Nodouble Breeders’ Stakes for state-bred sprinters under Julien Leparoux.
Navy Seal, the only horse trained by Nancy Knott, finished 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Willow Creek Road, with Lochmoor another length farther back in third. Defending champion and 4-5 favorite Bohemian Bo, who finished fourth, was followed, in order, by One Ten Stadium, Midnight Taxes and King Peanut.
The Nodouble was the first career stakes victory for Knott, the wife Oaklawn starter Bill “Blue” Knott who trains Navy Seal for Chicago-based KEM Stables (Mike Eiserman, David Fishbein & Earl Silver).
Copperelle is also the dam of Weast Hill, Usual Suspect and Lochmoor – all local stakes winners in Arkansas-bred company. Navy Seal ($26) joined the group in his seventh career stakes try. He finished fourth in last year’s Nodouble and third, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the Feb. 7 allowance prep at Oaklawn.
The speedy Bohemian Bo, as expected, shot to the lead from the rail and took the field through a :22.40 opening quarter and a :45.95 half-mile. Navy Seal, sixth approaching the quarter pole, was fanned wide turning for home. But the gelding found another gear in the final sixteenth and rolled past Willow Creek Road and a tiring Bohemian Bo on the outside to win going away.
Navy Seal, under 119 pounds, ran the six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.46. A 7-year-old son of champion Midshipman, Navy Seal raised his career earnings to $512,504 following his seventh victory from 41 starts.
Copperelle, an 18-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality, is owned by prominent Arkansas breeder Bill McDowell.
McDowell said last month that Copperelle is in foal to 2021 Arkansas Derby runner-up Caddo River and due in late March.
Racing resumes Friday at Oaklawn. The first post is 12:30 p.m. (Central).
Nodouble Quotes
Winning jockey Julien Leparoux (Navy Seal): “Actually, it was (plan was take him back). Last time, he broke very sharp. Put me in the race very nicely. I watched all of the replays before and was kind of surprised to be that close to the pace, actually, early on. But I traveled good, so I left him there and he kind of slowed down the end. So, today he broke good again, but I kind of took him back a little bit and settle in and make a run at the end. He did great today.”
Winning trainer Nancy Knott (Navy Seal): “It was a perfect ride. Just let him get within himself and waited as long as he could to make his run and came and passed them all. He is my baby, but he thinks he’s a colt. But he’s not and he is a handful in the morning. It is so special for him to keep his composure in the paddock, in the post parade. And then to run like this, come into this (infield winner’s circle) that he’s never been to with poise, he made me so proud today.”
