Trip Notes for Oct. 11-12: Knickerbocker, Queen Elizabeth II, Athenia

Saturday, October 11

Belmont - Knickerbocker (race 8)

COMMENT: Heavy rains made for a yielding course, and also resulted in the scratch of likely favorite and defending race winner Za Approval, who is well known to prefer firm footing. Legendary continued his ascent as the 5-year-old gelding also continued his love affair with this course (now 3 for 3 on it) and had no trouble with the footing. A winner on yielding ground on this course July 4, Legendary stalked in third while Plainview set the pace, moved closer on the far turn, came with a strong run into the lane to assume a clear lead, and had more than enough left to keep favored Up With the Birds at bay in the final furlong. This was his first graded stakes win, and while he won’t get another shot at this course, he might get a crack at the Grade 3 Red Smith on the Aqueduct turf Nov. 15, or could be done for the year according to his trainer. Up With the Birds, favored off a respectable fourth in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, was last from the start, was quite slow getting into stride as he was well behind the field, was still last turning for home, came with a smart run through the lane, and while he closed the gap on the winner, he never really appeared a danger to get to him. The Red Smith figures on his radar as the longer trip (1 3/8 miles) may play better for him. Mshawish lagged back next to last and came with a decent run into the lane, but was never really a threat. Speaking of Which stalked the pace but never mustered a run. He’d handled non-firm turf before, so this guy remains a bit of a mystery as he can fire big at times and then fail to factor.

Keeneland - Queen Elizabeth II (race 9)

COMMENT: Crown Queen, a $1.6 million purchase (that’s because she’s kin to the wonderful champion Royal Delta), continued her ascent as she notched a fourth straight win, stamping herself a potential big-time turf filly for 2015. Showing no aversion to the soft footing, the filly was thoroughly professional as she stalked the pace set by Sea Queen, moved closer turning for home, came with her run into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch, and was edging clear in the final yards. Trainer Bill Mott said he wasn’t sure about what might be next for his budding start. Ball Dancing, who’d shown talent in France and came to the U.S. and won the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont Sept.13, showed she’s the real deal and may be trainer Chad Brown’s next turf star as she lagged back, came with a strong threatening run into the lane to briefly challenge the winner, but then couldn’t sustain her run and keep pace with that foe in the final half-furlong. Personal Diary, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, wasn’t far behind the eventual winner early, didn’t accelerate as quickly into the lane, finally got going, and while no threat to the top two was able to get a piece of third. Sistas Stroll, winner of three straight at Churchill, Del Mar, and Arlington (the last being the Grade 3 Pucker Up), was last early, still there turning for home before finishing well to finish in a dead heat with Personal Diary for the show. Minorette, winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks and a close-up fourth to Crown Queen in the Grade 2 Lake Placid, was in closest pursuit of the pacesetter from the start, loomed a threat on the turn, but had nothing to offer when the real racing began.

Sunday, October 12

Belmont - Athenia (race 9)

COMMENT: Every once in a while it’s good to get a reminder about the danger of speed. La Tia, a good fourth in the Grade 1 Beverly D. and third in the Grade 2 Canadian, used her speed perfectly, playing keep-away throughout to post the win. She went right out to the lead on yielding turf she obviously didn’t mind, set modest splits while holding a fairly comfortable advantage, and kicked clear into the lane, giving herself enough of a buffer to get to the line before a couple hard-charging rivals. Byrama stalked the pace, commenced her run into the lane, doggedly kept to her task to close the gap on the winner, but just couldn’t quite get there in time. Overheard lagged back, swung wide into the lane, and finished strongly to be a good third, beaten just a neck and a nose. It’s conceivable all three target the Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct Nov. 8. Annecdote, the big favorite off a smashing win in her U.S. debut, the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at Belmont Sept. 13, seemed in a good spot midpack, made a mild move into the lane, but then came up empty thereafter. The Long Island might be on her radar as well.