Knickerbocker

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) is the
top draw in Thursday’s $100,000 Knickerbocker H. (G3), but the six-year-old
horse is unplaced in three previous attempts over Belmont’s turf. He’s got the
back class to succeed, but we won’t take a short price with the likely favorite.
DANAK (Ire) (Pivotal) will return from a lengthy freshening for Kiaran
McLaughlin, and we’ll tab him for a minor upset.

Danak displayed outstanding form in Ireland, reeling off five straight wins,
including a Group 3 score, before finishing fourth in the 2007 Tattersalls Gold
Cup (Ire-G1). Dylan Thomas (Ire) and Youmzain were second and third,
respectively, in that spot, and Danak was bet down to 4-1 in the Arlington
Million (G1) off that effort. He ran sixth, just 1 1/2 lengths back of the
winner, after lacking running room and bleeding in that Chicago event. The dark
bay returned to
the states a year later for the Fourstardave H. (G2) at Saratoga, but was pulled up and vanned off the course. The six-year-old will resume his
racing career off a 445-day layoff on Thursday, and his connections wouldn’t be
bringing him back if they didn’t think he still has something to offer. We like the
way he’s been training in preparation, and the Irish-bred can handle any kind of
footing. Jockey Cornelio Velasquez will look to run past them all aboard the
late runner.

BRAVE TIN SOLDIER (Storm Cat) earned a career-best 100 BRIS Speed rating when
annexing the Cliff Hanger S. (G3) last out over yielding ground, and the
five-year-old will probably get an inner turf course with some give to it here.
Unspectacular in Dubai over the winter, the uncoupled McLaughlin runner has been
making good progress in his recent starts, with triple-digit BRIS Late Pace
ratings to his credit, and looks capable of making an impact at this level.
Carlos Marquez Jr. will return to the saddle.

YORKTOWN (Fr) (Red Ransom), who recorded a fourth in the 2008 French Two
Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1), needed a few starts to acclimate himself to U.S.
racing and will enter the Knickerbocker on the upswing for conditioner Graham
Motion. The stalker figures to sit a good trip with his tactical speed, and
Yorktown will likely be in the thick of things turning for home. We won’t be
surprised to see this improving four-year-old offer a challenge for it all.

Proudinsky always seems to run well at Fair Grounds, Monmouth and Santa
Anita, but he’s never had any success in New York, including a fourth as the 6-5
favorite in last year’s Knickerbocker. Listed in the main field as the 9-5 choice on the morning
line this year, he’s potentially vulnerable. The Bobby Frankel runner will be
making his first start since June and doesn’t appear to have much of an edge
based on BRIS numbers. We’ll try to beat the classy veteran.

OPERATION RED DAWN (Miswaki) will step up off a third in a high-priced
claiming event and is probably a little more comfortable at a mile or 8 1/2
furlongs. LEMON CREAM PIE (Lemon Drop Kid) looks like the lone speed, but we’ll
be surprised to see him sustain it in his stakes bow. CHEROKEE SPEED (Cherokee
Run) has shown nice promise in his recent starts for James Toner, but the maiden
winner will be making his stakes debut in a tough spot. NERGAL (Fr) (Simon du
Desert) probably needs an easier spot to be competitive.

SOLAR FLARE (Arg) (Salt Lake) and THE ROUNDHOUSE (Fusaichi Pegasus) appear
unlikely to compete as main-track only entrants.