Cetewayo, sixth in the 1998 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), and Manndar, eighth in last year's renewal of that race, head a full field of horses entered in the $150,000 Knickerbocker Handicap (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park a day before the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship races are run. The 1 1/4-mile Knickerbocker is a quarter-mile shorter in distance than the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Michael Dickinson-trained Cetewayo enters the Knickerbocker following a third-place finish – behind Timboroa and King Cugat – in the Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) at Belmont last month. The Knickerbocker will be the third start in the form cycle of the 7-year-old son of His Majesty.
Manndar is a son of Doyoun -- sire of the last two Breeders' Cup Turf winners, Kalanisi and Daylami. Manndar, however, will not been given a chance to improve from his Breeders' Cup performance last year, where he was defeated by less than five lengths by Kalanisi. Manndar will break from post eight and under 116 pounds -- including Garrett Gomez – should he run. The 5-year-old is also considered a possible entrant in Sunday's Carleton F. Burke Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita.
The field for the Knickerbocker, from the rail out, will consist of:
1 -- Ready to Roll, Shaun Bridgmohan, 112
2 -- Rochester, Pat Day, 115
3 -- Cetewayo, John Velazquez, 117
4 -- Gritty Sandie, Corey Nakatani, 114
5 -- Spindrift, Jerry Bailey, 113
6 -- Eltawaasul, Victor Espinoza, 112
7 -- Sumitas, Edgar Prado, 115
8 -- Manndar, Garrett Gomez, 116
9 -- Deputy Strike, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 110
10 -- Crash Course, Mike Smith, 114
11 -- Man From Wicklow, Richard Migliore, 113
12 -- Regal Dynasty, Jean-Luc Samyn, 113
13 -- Good Boy Sam, Gary Stevens, 110
14 -- Country Be Gold, Robbie Davis, 120
15 -- Le Beaucet, no rider named, 117
