| KNICKERBOCKER H. (G2),
5TH-AQU, $150,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/8MT, 12:55 P.M. EDT, 10-30 |
||||
| PP | HORSE | TRAINER | JOCKEY | WT |
| 1 | CAESARION
(IRE) |
DE ROUALLE
JEAN |
CHAVEZ J F | 114 |
| 2 | HOTSTUFANTHENSOME | POINTER
NORMAN R |
PIMENTEL J | 114 |
| 3 | EVENING
ATTIRE |
KELLY
PATRICK J |
ESPINOZA J L | 114 |
| 4 | DR.
KASHNIKOW |
FISHER JOHN
R S |
SAMYN J L | 116 |
| 5 | L’OISEAU
D’ARGENT |
MCLAUGHLIN
KIARAN P |
GRYDER A T | 115 |
| 6 | HOST (CHI) | PLETCHER
TODD A |
DECARLO C P | 115 |
| 7 | BALESTRINI
(IRE) |
DRYSDALE
NEIL |
ALMEIDA G F | 115 |
| 8 | MR. LIGHT
(ARG) |
PENNA ANGEL
JR |
BRAVO J | 113 |
| 9 | SAILAWAY | MCGAUGHEY
CLAUDE III |
BRIDGMOHAN S
X |
112 |
| 10 | DENON | FRANKEL
ROBERT J |
FRAGOSO P | 119 |
For the first time in two years, EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) will
not race in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Instead, trainer Pat Kelly has
entered the six-year-old gelding in the $150,000 Knickerbocker H. (G2) at
Aqueduct and he looks the class of the 10-horse field. The 1 1/8-mile turf
contest is the second of two Grade-2 races at the New York track Saturday.
A Grade 1 winner, Evening Attire has faced off against the best in his
division this season and usually gave a good showing. His only win this year
came in the Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H. (G2), but he’s placed in such events as
the Excelsior Breeders’ Cup H. (G3) and Ben Ali S. (G3). Since July of last
year, the gray has earned nothing but century-topping BRIS Speed ratings, and he
looks ready to add yet another score to his record. Jose Espinoza has the call.
HOTSTUFANTHENSOME (Awesome Again) captured an optional claimer two back at
Monmouth Park, then finished a close fourth in the Cliff Hanger H. (G3) in his
most recent start. The bay four-year-old owns a nice late kick and could utilize
that to challenge in the stretch at a price under Julian Pimentel.
BALESTRINI (Ire) (Danehill) has yet to win in the United States, but the Neil
Drysdale charge has been close in each of his three tries. The most recent of
those, the Bay Meadows Breeders’ Cup H. (G3), resulted in a third-place finish,
and the four-year-old colt owns the numbers to finally break through here.
DR. KASHNIKOW (El Gran Senor) scored in the Cliff Hanger last out, earning a
99 Speed rating as well as a 112 BRIS Late Pace figure. He’ll come running late
and could take it all under Jean-Luc Samyn. L’OISEAU D’ARGENT (Silver Hawk) is
the likely pacesetter for this bunch and could hang around for a top three
finish at the wire. HOST (Chi) (Hussonet) was a close third in the Cliff Hanger
most recently and is another who will threaten in the exotics.
DENON (Pleasant Colony) was a top competitor last year, but didn’t show much
in his only start this year, the Sycamore Breeders’ Cup S. (G3). We’ll give him
another race. CAESARION (Ire) (Danehill) hasn’t raced since July in France and
might need a race to get acclimated to his surroundings. Neither SAILAWAY (Our
Emblem) nor MR. LIGHT (Arg) (Numerous) looks fast enough to challenge against
these.
| TRACK BANDIT
SELECTIONS: |
1st-EVENING ATTIRE | |
| 2nd-HOTSTUFANTHENSOME | ||
| 3rd-BALESTRINI (Ire) |