Knickerbocker is Wide-Open Affair

Unlike the New York basketball team that bears the same name, you can bet on the grade II, $150,000 Knickerbocker Handicap at 1 1/8 mile on the turf Saturday. One of the final turf stakes of the year in New York is a wide-open affair.

Dawn Of The Condor has been competitive in conditioned allowances going farther on the turf. He has not run this short since the summer of 2000 when he went 1-for-2 at the distance with a minor stakes win.

Eltawaasul was fourth in last year's Knickerbocker, which was run at 1 1/4 mile at Belmont. The $50,000 claim is 1-for-6 at the distance with one second.

The horse with the best record at a mile and an eighth is I'm All Yours, although he has done most of his winning against New York-breds. North East Bound may have found an easier spot here than last time. He is coming off a sixth-place finish in the grade I Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. The six-year-old gelding is making his third start off a layoff and could be primed for his best.

Polish Miner may also get a little class relief in the Knickerbocker. In his last turf start, he finished behind Baptize and upset Kelso winner Green Fee.

Four horses -- Coyote Lakes, Fisher Pond, Runspastum, and Saint Verre -- have been entered for the main track.

The field in post position order:

Dawn Of The Condor, Jorge Chavez, 114
Ballet Critic, Mike Luzzi, 112
North East Bound, Jose Velez, 117
Serial Bride, Chris Decarlo, 114
Eltawaasul, John Velazquez, ,114
Dicken's Storm, Norberto Arroyo, 112
I'm All Yours, Jerry Bailey, 115
Polish Miner, Javier Castellano, 114
Full Flow, Edgar Prado, 114
Runspastum, Richard Migliore, 122
Saint Verre, Jean-luc Samyn, 118
Coyote Lakes, Mike Luzzi, 118
Fisher Pond, John Velazquez,114