Trip Notes for October 10: Knickerbocker and Queen Elizabeth II...

Saturday, October 10

Belmont - Knickerbocker (race 9)

COMMENT: Messi came from Europe and looked ready to be a bigshot in the U.S. after two impressive wins here and at Saratoga this summer, but that idea took a hit when he was a no-factor seventh in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer. Today he took a slight class drop, and the German-bred got back on track with a smart victory. He bided his time in last as longshot Cage Fighter set a slow pace, started his run going to the far turn, had the check, swung wide into the lane and got going again, and blasted home to just get up in the final strides. He could be a force in the division in 2016. Cage Fighter, coming off a stakes win at Parx, broke from the outside post and set a slow pace. He rebuffed first a challenge by War Dancer into the lane and by Legendary in midstretch and held on for second. Mr. Speaker, coming off a win in the Grade 2 Commonwealth Cup at Laurel Sept. 19, bided his time early and came with a run in the lane. Legendary, the defending champ, lagged well back early, improved his position going down the backside, came with a threatening run into the lane but couldn’t sustain it. War Dancer, favored off a fourth in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, chased Cage Fighter, moved closer to challenge that foe turning for home, but then gave way.

Keeneland - Queen Elizabeth II Cup (race 9)

COMMENT: Her Emmynency has always shown talent and she put it all together here to get her first Grade 1 win. She was second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante (on synthetic) last summer and came into this off a second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks (on turf) Aug. 15. She had been entered in the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont Sept. 12 but threw a fit and refused to ship. She dogged pacesetter Mizz Money through modest splits, moved closer going to the far turn, grabbed the lead on the turn, ducked inward coming into the lane and finished gamely to fend off Miss Temple City. She did have to survive an inquiry by the connections of the runner-up. Miss Temple City, second to Sentiero Italia in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga Aug. 14 and third to her in the Sands Point, stalked in fifth, a couple lanes off the rail, moved to the inside to start her run on the turn, had to steady and wait for room when in a bit tight, but got going again, moved to the outside and just missed. Sentiero Italia, the heavy favorite off two stakes wins, sat just behind Miss Temple City, didn’t accelerate as quickly as that foe, then swung out into the lane and finished well for third. Blond Me, an English invader who ran second in the Sands Point, was away slowly to be last early, made a mild move into the lane between horses, but then ran into traffic, shifted out for room and was unable to get involved. Prize Exhibit, third in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and second in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon against elders at Del Mar Sept. 6, was a bit rank going into the first turn, seemed in a good spot stalking early in third but weakened when asked to make a move turning for home.