Knickerbocker distance within War Dancer's comfort zone

ELMONT, N.Y. – War Dancer was favored in last year’s Grade 3 Knickerbocker Stakes despite having not won a race in the previous 17 months. War Dancer finished seventh.

On Monday, when Belmont hosts a 10-race Columbus Day card, War Dancer likley will not be favored in the $200,000 Knickerbocker, but he will coming in off a win.

War Dancer drew the outside post in a nine-horse field entered Friday for the Knickerbocker, run at 1 1/8 miles over the inner turf course.

War Dancer is coming off a victory in the PTHA President’s Cup at Parx, a race he won by three-quarters of a length over Uncle Dave. Roman Approval, who was third in that race, came back to win an allowance race at Belmont on Thursday.

War Dancer, who went winless in eight starts last year, is 2 for 4 this year, with both wins coming at 1 1/8 miles.

“We’ve shortened him up, and he seems a little more effective at the shorter distances,” trainer Bill Mott said. “Last year, we were running him a mile and a half and a mile and three-eighths, it wasn’t working out. While he’s won at those distances, it might not be what he wants to do on a regular basis.”

Trainer Chad Brown entered three in the Knickerbocker – Takeover Target, March, and Mr Maybe. Mr Maybe was supplemented to the race.

The speedy Heart to Heart returns to the races after getting a breather following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in June.

Can’thelpbelieving, Jay Gatsby, Tale of Fancy, and Blacktype also entered.