Belmont: Knickerbocker contender Swift Warrior thrives on variety

[bc_video_id:306957:]ELMONT, N.Y. – Though he has yet to run over soft ground, Swift Warrior has yet to find a turf course he hasn’t liked.

A stakes winner over four different courses – three this year – Swift Warrior will make his Belmont Park debut in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Knickerbocker Stakes. In what will be his 16th start on the grass, Swift Warrior will be racing over his 13th different course.

“He’s certainly training really well. I’m looking forward to getting him a run at Belmont once,” trainer John Terranova said. “He’s a traveler.”

That’s an understatement. Though based in south Florida during the winter and New York since the spring, Swift Warrior this year has raced at Sam Houston, Tampa, Pimlico, Colonial, Monmouth, and, most recently, Parx. He won the Grade 3 John Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston, the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes and the PTHA President’s Cup. In each of those three races, Swift Warrior was either on, or just off the pace.

“He’s a horse that wants to be more into the bridle early and placed within a couple of lengths of the lead,” Terranova said. “He seems to do his better running that way.”

Jose Ortiz rides Swift Warrior from post 2.

Plainview figures to be the pacesetter, with Howe Great also showing a tendency to be forwardly placed. Tetradrachm, if he runs, could also be a pace player.

Tetradrachm and Za Approval are likely to scratch should the course come up soft. Significant rain was forecast Thursday through Saturday morning.

Boisterous has won the last two runnings of the Knickerbocker. He is a six-time winner at Belmont Park, including a victory in the Grade 1 Man o’ War here in July. He is coming off sub-par performances in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and Bowling Green, the latter coming here last month in which he encountered traffic trouble.

“I’d be disappointed if he didn’t run a really good race,” trainer Shug McGaughey said. “He’s always done good here in the fall. He likes this cooler weather, turf with a little bit of give to it, and I think he’s doing really well.”

Boisterous, who breaks from the extreme outside under Javier Castellano, is making what is expected to be the final start of his career before being sold at the Keeneland sale of breeding stock in November.

Exclusive Strike, third in the Man o’ War, is cross-entered here and the First Responder Stakes at Parx. He may scratch from both spots, trainer Jason Servis said.

London Lane, who beat Swift Warrior in the Grade 3 Colonial Turf Cup; Paris Vegas, a horse who has run well over soft ground; and Mr. Commons, winless in his last 10 starts, complete the field.

Percussion, Praetereo, and Don Dulce were entered in case the race is moved to the dirt.