Knickerbocker

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

The turf in Sunday's $100,000 Knickerbocker S. (G3) will probably still have

some give to it and trainer Mary Hartmann has announced that PRESIOUS PASSION

(Royal Anthem) will likely scratch if the course isn't firm. We respect the

multiple Grade 1-winning gelding but were looking forward to playing against him

with VIOLON SACRE (Stravinsky), who rates top billing in the nine-furlong turf

affair.

A listed winner in France, the five-year-old made his debut in late May

against a stakes-quality, allowance/optional-claiming event at Monmouth Park.

Violon Sacre offered a strong middle move to reach contention before weakening

in the stretch that afternoon, but he moved forward off that effort and captured

the Battlefield S. next time out for Patrick Biancone. The bay horse just missed

in the Oceanport S. (G3) two back, finishing second by a neck, and stormed to a

1 1/2-length decision in the lucrative $250,000 President's Cup S. at the track

formerly known as Philadelphia Park last time. We love the fact that his BRIS

Late Pace ratings have improved in each start, registering a 116 two back and a

whopping 122 number last time, and the Kentucky-bred is going very well

presently. We'll look for him to keep it rolling with his first graded win on

Sunday.

WAR HOOT (War Chant) will enter on the upswing for Chad Brown and looks like

a live player for the exotics at decent odds. The four-year-old colt earned

commendable BRIS numbers against allowance foes this spring and returned from a

freshening with a pair of improved efforts at Saratoga, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths

two back. He offered a fine rally for third behind Violon Sacre in the

President's Cup last time, registering a 111 BRIS Late Pace rating, and the bay

is eligible to make a serious impact in his first attempt against graded rivals

here.

WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) can't be dismissed following a

nice win in the Keep the Promise S. over the course on September 19, his first

stakes tally since 2008. The multiple Grade 2-winning six-year-old returned to

training this spring following a stint at stud and has now had four starts back

for Gary Contessa. His victory last time came over "good' turf, so the expected

conditions Sunday should favor the late runner.

WESLEY (El Prado [Ire]) is an inconsistent performer for Mark Hennig, but his

best could put him in the mix for a minor award in this spot. He's dropped eight

stakes attempts since capturing the Miami Mile H. (G3) in April 2009, but

the five-year-old exits an encouraging neck second in the Keep the Promise.

Defending champion OPERATION RED DAWN (Miswaki) hasn't shown enough in his

recent starts for us to recommend his chances. BALETTI (Gulch) recorded a

good-looking win in the Fort Marcy S. (G3) at Belmont in May, but he's been

unplaced in his last three and is winless in six career attempts at this

distance.

Presious Passion could still participate if the turf dries out enough from

the heavy rain earlier this week, but we're not convinced that he's sharp enough

to contend against graded rivals presently. INTERPATATION (Langfuhr) is unplaced

in six straight starts since posting a massive upset in the 2009 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Invitational S.

(G1) and we'll let him beat us in this spot.

Neither MIDNIGHT MISCHIEF (Medaglia d'Oro) nor LEADING ON (Mt. Livermore) look fast enough to challenge.

Main-track only runners BARRIER REEF (Mizzen Mast), DISCREET TREASURE (El

Prado [Ire]) and MARILYN'S GUY (Yonaguska) will probably remain in the barn.