The Knickerbocker Handicap GIII

For Three Year Olds and Upward

One Mile and Eighth Inner Turf Course

Belmont Park

Purse: $200.000

A fall afternoon here at Belmont Park and on Saturday October 10, 2015 the ninth running of the GIII Knickerbocker Handicap will take place. We have a field of five for this one. Last year owner Oval Express Farms sent out Chasing A Ride who under Junior Alvarado went in a time of 1:51.24 for the mile and eighth over the soggy inner turf course to win by a length. We have new runners and new so lets take a peek.

1) Lythrum Salicaria ~ makes his way into this one off an eighth place finish in the GI Woodward at Saratoga. The start prior to that was a fifth in the GI Whitney. That is now two tough races the spa has to offer and now will move back to the sod for the first time since January when he was third by three lengths in the GII San Gabriel Stakes. He has three wins in six starts over the sod and hopes to add another for owner Blushing Meadows. He will be ridden by Elvis Trujillo.

2) Another Mambo ~ was a winner in his debut for new owner RNP Stables here at Belmont Park when taking on claimers for a price tag of $50.000. Claimed for $16.000 the five year old gelding now has won five times out of six starts on the sod and all five have been this year. He now looks for a successful step up in class in this one and ownership hopes he can deliver another winning run. He liked the turf course in his last one and Joel Rosario feels confident once again has he returns to the saddle.

3) Pinnacle West ~ will make the move to the sod for the first time on Saturday. A long grueling spring in which he was seen in the GI KYD and GI PRK where he was off the board in each of them. He then tried Allowance Company at Saratoga and was third. In his last start he was third once again in the GIII Jones Stakes. Distance should not be an issue the question his will he like the sod? We will find out on Saturday as he will go out for owner Hippyheart and Jose Lezcano gets the leg up.

4) Diplomatic Rule ~ makes his debut for new owner Simmer Down Stables. Bought in the September auction for $27.001 will jump right back in with Stakes competition. A second place finish in his last start at the spa against claimers for $50.000 at five and a half furlongs will move back out in this one. He has hit the board in eleven of seventeen starts on the sod and is eight of thirteen when stretching out. He may be close to the leaders early and hoping to get in the mix late. He will go with one of NY finest as Javier Castellano climbs aboard.

5) Roxys Rocket ~ comes into this one off of three consecutive third place finishes. Facing oclm in those three starts will look to make the step up a good one. He was knocking on the door two back and was the leader in the other two but caught late in the stretch. He put in a nice run in that last one and owner Aer Stables hopes he can bring that run again. He will get Cornelio Velazquez in the saddle for this one.

This is Choppy I am OUT!

Categories: Grade III