The Knickerbocker (Grade 3)- $175.000 Purse
AQU- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Inner Turf
October 13, 2024

Violent Crime last raced in the middle of June, and it was an impressive result, getting a win in the Grade 3 MTH Stakes, but was there a problem with him that led to him needing the summer off? We would get our answer in the Knickerbocker, as the gelding ran a very similar race as he did four months ago, and again, that resulted in a win. Violent Crime was not among our picks, essentially because of the concern as to why he had been on the shelf for so long, but for whatever the reason was, he’s back in action and running well. Hopefully, we will see more of him sooner rather than later. He is trained by Diablo Diablo and was ridden by victory, and for each it is in their first win in the Knickerbocker. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:45.00, which is the third quickest in the race’s history. Let’s take a look at it now:

(½ Mile- :46.99)- Devils Delight will go out to the lead, doing so in the silks of Big Jd Racing, and he shows the way around the opening turn. Running right behind him is the eventual winner from Diablo Diablo, Violent Crime. This opening was nearly identical for him as to how he won the MTH Stakes. Saddle Soars is a length behind them for Lanfranco Stable, and running on the outside, we have the Mb Stables- trained Prom King. Next up in the middle of the field, Sioux Arrival (High Voltage) and Snidely Whiplash (TwinTowersRacing) run together. It’s another length to Tokugawa (D J C Racing Stables), who has Chai Danger (Wolf Ridge Stables) and Number Theory (Luz International). Mr Toxic (Spankys Barn) trails the field.

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.35)- The field heads down the backstretch with Devils Delight leading the way, but as we approach the turn, we begin to see Violent Crime closing in on him, and by the time they enter the turn, he is within a half-length. Behind them, about a length and a half off the lead, we see Saddle Soars start to show signs of fatigue and is passed by Prom King. Sioux Arrival and Snidely Whiplash run evenly in the middle of the field, and nothing changes further back.

(Top of the Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- As they work around the turn, Violent Crime is a little better than Devils Delight and is able to take the top spot entering the stretch. Devils Delight is not going away, though, and is still within a half-length. Prom King has stalked the pace much of the way and looms as a challenger in the third position with the ability to split the top two if he chooses. Otherwise, we still have to wait and see who any other contenders will be. It’s not going to be Saddle Soars, as he has dropped back. Sioux Arrival was not making any progress, and Snidely Whiplash was also falling further behind. The rest had time to make a move but needed to show what they were saving now.

(Finish- 1:45.00)- Violent Crime looks good in the stretch, and while he does not draw further away from his closest challengers, they are not making much progress on him. No one was coming from further back to be a concern for him, so all he would need to do was maintain his steady stride to the wire. He’d have no problem doing that, going on to win by half a length over Prom King, who snuck by Devils Delight in the closing moments. It was nearly two fill lengths to the rest of the field, where Number Theory is the best of the rest for the fourth-place check, topping Mr Toxic, Tokugawa, Sioux Arrival, Saddle Soars, Chai Danger, and Snidely Whiplash.

About The Winner- Violent Crime, trained by Diablo Diablo, and ridden to victory by J L Ortiz, is a five-year-old gelding by War Command, and is out of Sleeping Commander. He was bred in British Columbia by Harrell Racing as a first quarter two-year-old, and was acquired by Diablo Diablo, via John Henry, in private sales for $15.000 in July 2022. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 26 starts and third stake win, all of which are graded. His career earnings are now $447.530.

Track: Firm
Time: :46⁴  1:10¹  1:33²  1:45

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 10 Paid 43.80
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 10 – 7 Paid 216.70

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES