War Dancer Drops Into Knickerbocker

Diamond M Stable's War Dancer has knocked heads with the best of the older turf division all summer and takes a drop in class Oct. 10 in the Knickerbocker Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old War Front   horse will have to work hard, however, as a full field awaits him in the nine-furlong race, including Legendary, last year's winner.



Trained this season by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, War Dancer has placed in both the Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) and Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT), and was competitive in the Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (gr. IT). In his last start he faded to fourth behind Juddmonte Farms' Flintshire in the Sword Dancer Stakes (gr. IT). Flintshire came back to run second Sunday in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Longchamp.



Only two in the field—V. E. Day and Mr Speaker—have earned more than War Dancer.



The majority of V. E. Day's $1,030,010 in career earnings came from his win on the dirt in last year's Travers Stakes (gr. I), but the son of English Channel   began his career on the grass and was a rallying third behind Big Blue Kitten to start the turf season in New York in the May 2 Fort Marcy Stakes (gr. IIIT). He ventures back to grass off a second-place finish to the ill-fated Tacticus in the Sept. 12 Temperence Hill Stakes at 1 5/8 miles.



Phipps Stable's Mr Speaker, by Pulpit—Salute, by Unbridled, won Laurel's Commonwealth Cup Stakes (gr. IIT) last out at the Knickerbocker trip. Half of his six career wins have come over the turf at Belmont and he has $1,220,044 in earnings. He should settle right off the early pace.



Walter Swinburn's Legendary, a 6-year-old gelding by Exceed and Excel, won last year's Knickerbocker but has not found the winner's circle since. He prompted the pace at Laurel is his most recent effort, finishing second to Mr Speaker.



Several others figure to contend, including Cliff Hanger Stakes (gr. IIIT) winner Middleburg and All Included, who closed for third last time against Ironicus and Grand Tito in the shorter Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga Race Course.