Trip Notes for October 12-13: Knickerbocker, Athenia and Queen Elizabeth II

Saturday, October 12

Belmont - Knickerbocker (race 7)

COMMENT: While top BC Mile protagonists Wise Dan and Obviously had their reputations damaged a bit with recent losses, Za Approval flattered their form with a very nice victory here. He ran second to Obviously in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile and second to Wise Dan in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in his last two starts. He faced no one like those two here and took full advantage. He stalked in third while Plainview was a clear leader setting solid splits, moved to challenge that rival into the lane, was able to push past while under just a hand ride, edged clear and had no worries in the final 70 yards. Plainview bounced out to a clear lead, battled back when hooked by the winner into the lane, couldn’t keep pace in the final furlong but gamely held second. Howe Great sat midpack and finished smartly. Boisterous, going for a third straight win in this race, broke slowly, showed little speed, made a threatening move on the far turn but flattened out and gave way. He just hasn’t been as sharp since winning the Grade 1 Man o’ War so impressively here in July.

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Belmont - Athenia (race 9)

COMMENT: Pianist just missed to the red-hot Laughing in her last start in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga Aug. 24, and she flattered that gal with a nice victory here to give trainer Chad Brown a 1-3 finish. Now 3 for 3 on turf here, Pianist dogged pacesetter Assateague from the start, surged past that tiring rival to a clear lead into the lane, and while the gap closed in the final furlong she never really seemed in any serious danger of getting caught. Abaco lagged back, came with a strong run in the lane to close the gap, but never seemed likely to catch the winner. Samitar, like the winner trained by Brown, stalked the pace, tried to make a run at the winner into the lane, was no match for that rival and then couldn’t fend off Abaco in the final half-furlong. Ruthenia sat back and made only modest headway.

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Keeneland - Queen Elizabeth II (race 9)

COMMENT: Owner-breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey continue their amazing (and Eclipse Award-earning?) year as Kitten’s Dumpling further pushed sire Kitten’s Joy up the scale with another big victory. A Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner already, she rallied for fourth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last out. This time she got her Grade 1 win. She was allowed to leave the paddock early. She sat well back early, remained toward the rear to the far turn, swung wide into the lane, hit high gear to reel in pacesetter Leigh Court in the final half-furlong, and kept on doggedly to fend off hard-trying Alterite. Alterite, the favorite after invading from France and easily winning Belmont’s Garden City last month, sat midpack, remained there to the top of the lane, accelerated with the winner while just behind, kept on gamely on the inside but just couldn’t quite get to her. Caroline Thomas sat well back with the winner, didn’t accelerate as quickly but found her best stride late and finished well. Leigh Court, a Woodbine raider making just her second start on turf (she won her only prior try), set a brisk pace, was still clear into the lane but couldn’t fend off the top three in what was still a good run. Say, top-class in Europe and back in seven days after running sixth to elders in the Grade 1 First Lady here, stalked in fourth but never mustered a run. Emotional Kitten, second and third in West Coast Grade 1’s in her last two starts, was last early and never really got involved.

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