Reckoning Force due for a cleaner trip in paceless Knickerbocker

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If not for a bad start, Reckoning Force might have pulled off a 42-1 shocker in last month’s Grade 2 Mint Millions at Kentucky Downs. With a better break Sunday, Reckoning Force would be no surprise in the Grade 3, $175,000 Knickerbocker Stakes at Aqueduct.

In a six-horse field seemingly void of pace, Reckoning Force looks likely to be on or near the lead under Eric Cancel in the Knickerbocker, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles over the outer turf course.

In August, Reckoning Force won a second-level allowance at Saratoga pressing the pace. Three horses out of that race came back to run very well in their next starts, including Dripping Gold, who finished sixth to Reckoning Force and then won an allowance at Kentucky Downs by six lengths with a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

In Reckoning Force’s next start, the $2 million Mint Millions, he got squeezed back to last when horses breaking on both sides of him sandwiched him at the break, leaving him in last. He was still last in midstretch before showing late interest and was beaten only 2 1/4 lengths.

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“He ran a hell of a race,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “He was last most of the way around, then came with a nice run at the end. Hopefully, he’ll have a better trip this time around.”

Reckoning Force breaks from post 4 under Cancel.

Fort Washington is the 126-pound highweight in the Knickerbocker, spotting five pounds to the field. Fort Washington dead-heated for the win in the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes in June. Since then, he finished eighth in the United Nations, also at Monmouth, and third in the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga.

Shug McGaughey, the trainer of Fort Washington, said he is throwing out the United Nations effort.

“He was in trouble the whole way,” McGaughey said. “He [jockey Kendrick Carmouche] couldn’t get him where he wanted him.”

In the Bernard Baruch, McGaughey said Fort Washington was making a run on the inside “when he decided to go to the outside.”

Fort Washington is 2 for 3 at Aqueduct, including a maiden win in 2021 and an allowance win in 2023.

Trainer Chad Brown sends out the uncoupled pair of Redistricting and Andthewinneris. Redistricting hasn’t run since he was pulled up in last year’s Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. Prior to that, he had won 2 of 3 starts, including an allowance win here off a four-month layoff.

Andthewinneris was beaten a nose by Battle of Normandy in an allowance here Sept. 26.

Irish Prophet, second in an allowance at Del Mar, and Siege of Boston, third in the Tapit Stakes on Aug. 29 at Kentucky Downs, complete the field.

The Knickerbocker goes as race 3 on a nine-race card that begins at 12:10 p.m.

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