Apparently, a six-day delay did little to help the New York Racing Association round up a full field for the $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park.
Only five starters, including three veterans of the Sept. 7 Lure Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, will line up for the Oct. 18 1 1/8-mile turf stakes, which was moved from its original Oct. 12 date due to a rainy forecast.
In the Lure, Devamani was the top finisher among the Knickerbocker trio, closing for third. Just a neck behind him was Breaking the Rules, and it was another head back to Olympico, both of whom will also return Sunday.
Devamani, one of two Chad Brown-trained starters, is winless in five 2020 starts with two seconds and a pair of thirds. The 6-year-old gelding opened the year with runner-up finishes in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T) and Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T).
A son of Dubawi, he is owned by Sanford Goldfarb and Samuel Abraham.
Olympico, a 5-year-old Rajsaman gelding, was second in last year's Knickerbocker for Brown and owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Bethlehem Stables, losing by a length. Sidelined for more than nine months after that, the grade 3 winner was fifth in both 2020 starts, including the Lure in his most recent start.
Phipps Stable's Breaking the Rules was the 8-5 favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Lure but lacked a stretch kick and settled for fourth in the field of five. A homebred son of War Front , the 5-year-old entered the Lure off allowance optional claiming wins in his two other 2020 starts for trainer Shug McGaughey.
Entering the fray is Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old ridgling Seismic Wave. A homebred son of Tapit trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, he was sixth in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2T) and a game second before that in the mile Poker Stakes (G3T).
With Seismic Wave entered in the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as part of the WinStar Racing consignment, the Knickerbocker could be his final start in Juddmonte colors.
"I think for his style of running, a racetrack like Belmont is going to suit him better to get the trip he needs," Juddmonte general manager Garrett O'Rourke said. "It's a spot worthy of taking a shot in. He's a sound horse. He's been a fun horse to have around. Horses like him are good to have around because they're reliable and usually perform really well. He's entered in the Keeneland November sale, so we'll see how he runs and take it from there."
Also among the starters is Waterford Stable's En Wye Cee. In his lone turf start, the 4-year-old son of Declaration of War trained by Todd Pletcher was third, beaten by a head and a neck, in an Aug. 1 allowance optional claimer that served as his first start in eight months.
Because of the pint-sized field, the Knickerbocker will be the third race, with post time at 1:28 p.m. ET.
Coverage of the 10-race card, which starts at 12:20 p.m., will be presented on "America's Day at the Races" through the Fox Sports and MSG networks.
Belmont Park, Sunday, October 18, 2020, Race 3Entries: Knickerbocker S. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Olympico (FR)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
123
Chad C. Brown
4/1
2
2Seismic Wave (KY)
Javier Castellano
121
William I. Mott
5/1
3
3Devamani (FR)
Joel Rosario
121
Chad C. Brown
7/2
4
4En Wye Cee (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
121
Todd A. Pletcher
2/1
5
5Breaking the Rules (KY)
John R. Velazquez
121
Claude R. McGaughey III
9/5