A. Bianco Holding Limited's Pioneering Spirit proved superior to his lone foe Commandeer in Friday's Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker, a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up that was moved from the outer turf to the main track, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Linda Rice, Pioneering Spirit visited the winner's circle for the sixth time since being haltered for $40,000 out of a March maiden claiming tilt at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old son of American Pharoah has hit the board in 8-of-10 starts for Rice, including his Knickerbocker score and a stakes win on turf in the Bernard Baruch in September at Saratoga Race Course, which followed a Grade 1 placing when third in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer in August.
“When I claimed him, he had been running on the dirt, but he had never won a race on the dirt – that's a negative,” said Rice. “But he really trains well in the morning and breezes well on the dirt. That doesn't always hold true from turf to dirt – a lot of grass horses will [work well on dirt] and then not perform on it.”
Piloted to victory by Jose Ortiz, Pioneering Spirit broke the best of the pair but kept back as the Dylan Davis-piloted Commandeer took command along the inside and raced a half-length ahead of his pressing rival through splits of 23.91 seconds and 47.02 over the sloppy and sealed going.
Ortiz nudged Pioneering Spirit to move closer approaching the turn before turning his mount loose after three-quarters in 1:11.06. Pioneering Spirit responded to urging with aplomb and drew clear of the Jimmy Toner-trained Commandeer in the stretch, clocking one mile in 1:37.35 and cantering home down the center of the course when shown a right-handed crop to complete the course 15 3/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:51.42.
Wicked Finn, St Anthony, Rockemperor, Master Piece and Siege of Boston were scratched. King Cause was scratched at the gate, which led to the match race.
Rice said she was confident in both Ortiz and Pioneering Spirit.
“I haven't been in very many match races. This might be the first one,” said Rice. “He's very tactical this horse and he has a beautiful way of moving. He has a very efficient stride and great mechanics. Jose put the heat on the other horse and it worked.”
Ortiz, who was aboard Pioneering Spirit for the first time since an optional claiming win in July, said he knew the race was won in the far turn.
“At that point, I felt very confident and comfortable at the three-eighths pole,” said Ortiz. “I felt like Dylan's horse was struggling a bit over the backside, off the bit a little. From that point on, I just applied more pressure, more pressure and my horse was traveling well under the bridle. I was very happy at that point.”
Rice added Pioneering Spirit could come under consideration for the $150,000 Artie Schiller, a one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up, on November 12 here for his next outing.
Bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding, Pioneering Spirit banked $82,500 in victory, boosting his total purse earnings to $530,750 through a record of 20-6-4-2. He returned $3.40 for a $2 win ticket.
Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.
America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.
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