Better Trip Wins Knickerbocker for Andthewinneris

It was a tale of two trips for Chad Brown-trained runners in the $169,750 Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 13, but, regardless, he notched the exacta as the longer price, Andthewinneris  ($13.60), emerged victorious.

After two scratches that included 4-5 morning-line favorite Film Star , five went to post for the 1 1/8-mile event with Klaravich Stables' Redistricting  sent away as the 7-5 choice. The favorite settled into a comfortable position behind pacesetters Siege of Boston  and Fort Washington .

Meanwhile, Dylan Davis found himself in an unexpected position when last early aboard Andthewinneris behind fractions of :23.56, :47.78, and 1:11.20.

"The instructions were to get forward position because the main speed (Irish Prophet ) scratched here," Davis said. "Everyone else was more intent and broke better than me, so I found myself last."

The last-place position turned into a blessing for Davis as it allowed him to wind up the 4-year-old Oscar Performance   gelding.

"What he really needs is a nice, sweeping move. It takes a little bit for him to get running," Davis said. "I started a little early on him at the 2 1/2 (furlongs) and he was really running for me."

While Andthewinneris launched his rally, Redistricting got trapped on the rail boxed in behind the pacesetters. Jockey Manny Franco was able find space on the far outside inside the final furlong, but could not catch his stablemate.

"He was just a little bit unlucky there," Franco said. "I was riding the rail the whole way, but it never opened up. When I tipped out, I had two horses outside of me, so I had to wait. He ran a good race."

After collaring Reckoning Force  inside the final sixteenth, Andthewinneris stopped the clock in 1:46.15 despite drifting away from Davis' left-handed crop.

"He shied but I kept left-handed because he was running from it," Davis said. "It was enough to get me past the leaders. I didn't want to have to switch back to the right and straighten him up, I think that really helped him a lot."

Redistricting was surging to be a neck behind while Reckoning Force was another nose back in third.

"It was nice to run one-two, but it was very frustrating for Redistricting," Brown said. "I feel bad for his connections because that horse looked like he was probably the best. But I'm very proud of Andthewinneris, who continues to improve for us."

Winner of the Bourbon Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland at 2 while in the barn of trainer Wayne Catalano, Andthewinneris joined Brown ahead of his 4-year-old debut July 20. He was third in the Aug. 21 John's Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 21 after what Brown called a "really bad trip."

A homebred for Susan Moulton, Andthewinneris is 4-1-3 from 14 starts for earnings of $507,293. His is the fifth graded winner for sire Oscar Performance this season, who stood at Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington for a fee of $25,000 in 2024.