Hi Happy Aims to Get Back on Track in Knickerbocker

After scratching out of the Sept. 29 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T), La Providencia's multiple graded stakes winner Hi Happy will now headline the $200,000 Knickerbocker Stakes (G2T) on the Oct. 8 Columbus Day holiday card at Belmont Park.

A 7-year-old son of Pure Prize, Hi Happy posted back-to-back graded stakes wins in the March 31 Pan American Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park and the May 12 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont. He was third in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1T) before running a disappointing sixth in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) and fourth in the Aug. 25 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T).

Taken out of the Turf Classic due to the yielding turf condition last weekend, trainer Todd Pletcher said he is hoping to get Hi Happy back on track in the Knickerbocker.

"We're hoping for some firmer turf conditions," Pletcher said. "It was a little too soft in the Joe Hirsch and a mile and an eighth might be a tick shorter than the optimal distance for him, but I think he's versatile enough that if the ground is right, he can compete in any race from a mile and an eighth to a mile and a half. He's probably best going a mile and a quarter plus, but we've had to make some adjustments because of the weather and this might be our best option."

Hi Happy will depart from post 7 with Luis Saez aboard.

Winning an allowance race at Belmont only 11 days ago, multiple graded stakes winner Blacktype will look to defend his title in the Knickerbocker since winning last year for Jump Sucker Stable and trainer Christophe Clement.

Starting the year with a fifth-place finish in an April 8 allowance race at Keeneland, Blacktype finished fifth in the Aug. 11 Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in his second to last start.

"He won very well the other day on softer turf," Clement said. "We're really wheeling him right back and he looks good. I think it's a fun race and we can reassess on Sunday morning to see if the horse is doing well and go for it."

The Monday card will also feature Madaket Stable's European stakes winner Monette making her North American debut for trainer Graham Motion in the $150,000 Matron Stakes (G3T), featuring a full field of 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs.

A French-bred daughter of Cockney Rebe, Monette owns a pair of wins and three seconds in France, including a neck victory in the July 31 Criterium du Bequet at La Teste Buch. She was purchased privately following that effort. Since settling in at Motion's Fair Hill base in Maryland, she's recorded four breezes over the Tapeta training track, including a five-furlong work in 1:01.40 last Saturday.

"She's done everything nicely since she's been here," said Motion. "She's been very workmanlike in everything. We kind of gave her a bit of time just to get adjusted when she first came over, but since we've gotten her in training, she hasn't missed a beat."

Repole Stable's Guacamole will make the switch to grass for trainer Todd Pletcher following a lackluster eleventh-place finish after leading the early pace in the Sept. 1 Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Earlier in the Saratoga meet, the Flat Out  filly was placed first in her debut in an off-the-turf maiden special weight July 26 before finishing third in the Adirondack Stakes (G2) 16 days later.

Entries: Matron S. (G3T)

Belmont Park, Monday, October 08, 2018, Race 9

• Grade III
• 6f
• Inner turf
• $150,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 5:32 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Jaded Lady (NY)	Manuel Franco	117	Jeremiah C. Englehart	20/1
2	2Lonely Road (KY)	David Cohen	117	Christophe Clement	15/1
3	3Dragic (KY)	John R. Velazquez	117	Wesley A. Ward	4/1
4	4Tradeable (NY)	Junior Alvarado	117	John O. Hertler	12/1
5	5Egoli (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	117	Wesley A. Ward	6/1
6	6Entirely (KY)	Javier Castellano	119	Jonathan Thomas	7/2
7	7Questionoftheday (MD)	Julian Pimentel	119	Michael J. Trombetta	15/1
8	8Guacamole (KY)	Luis Saez	117	Todd A. Pletcher	15/1
9	9Jazzy J (KY)	Eric Cancel	117	Alejandro Maymo	30/1
10	10Malibu Mischief (KY)	Dylan Davis	117	Gary C. Contessa	12/1
11	11Into the South (KY)	Joe Bravo	117	Ignacio Correas, IV	6/1
12	12Monette (FR)	Jose L. Ortiz	119	H. Graham Motion	5/1