Hi Happy seeks lost graded stakes form in Knickerbocker

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher is hoping Hi Happy can rediscover his graded stakes-winning form from earlier this year when he runs the 6-year-old Argentine-bred in the Grade 2, $200,000 Knickerbocker Stakes, the co-feature on Monday’s 10-race Columbus Day card at Belmont Park.

Monday’s card, which also includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron for 2-year-old fillies on turf, begins at 1 p.m.

In the spring Hi Happy won the Grade 2 Pan American at Gulfstream and Grade 1 Man o’ War at Belmont to put him among the early-season leaders in the male marathon turf division. Hi Happy ran a solid third in the Grade 1 Manhattan.

During the summer, however, Hi Happy regressed, finishing sixth in the Grade 2 Bowling Green and fourth in the Sword Dancer. While soft ground may have hampered Hi Happy in the Bowling Green, he didn’t have much of an excuse in the Sword Dancer.

“It might be a case where he didn’t love the Saratoga turf course,” Pletcher said Saturday. “He ran better in the Sword Dancer than he did in the Bowling Green, but he still did not run as well as he was capable of.”

Pletcher scratched Hi Happy from the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch on Sept. 29 due to the soft turf. With no rain since Friday – and none expected through the weekend – Pletcher is hoping the course is good to firm by Monday.

“It still concerns me. It’s a little softer than I’d like it to be,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, we get dry conditions Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and I think we’ll be okay.”

Hi Happy, who is cutting back in distance to 1 1/8 miles in this spot, will break from the outside in what figures to be a six-horse field in the Knickerbocker following the scratch of main track-only entrant Secret Passage.

Blacktype won the Knickerbocker last year following an allowance win a month prior over the Belmont turf. On Monday, he runs back just 11 days after winning an allowance race here.

“He bounced out of his race in good shape, not a tremendous amount of options, so by elimination it’s fun to have a look at it and most probably run,” trainer Christophe Clement said.

Revved Up, Night Prowler, Aquaphobia, and Inspector Lynley complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Hi Happy, by Pure Prize

Last 3 Beyers: 99-91-101

◗ After two disappointing results in Saratoga, returns to a turf course over which he won a Grade 1 and was beaten a half-length in another Grade 1.

◗ Distance may be shorter than he prefers, but he was beaten only a length by Heart to Heart in Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf at 1 1/8 miles in February, his first start in 10 months.

Blacktype, by Dunkerque

Last 3 Beyers: 97-89-92

◗ A front-running allowance winner here Sept. 27, projects to be the primary speed again.

◗ Is 6 for 14 over Belmont’s turf course, with wins in four of his last five starts here.