BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Claimed for $75,000 out of his last race by owner and trainer Antonio Arriaga, Florida-bred Dear Dad makes his first start from the new barn against black-type company in Saturday’s $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. Set to go a mile-and-one-eighth on the outer turf, the Knickerbocker has drawn nine entrants including Bank Frenzy, who is entered under main track only conditions.
Dear Dad will shorten up from a mile-and-three-eighths on the Aqueduct grass in his last start when fourth, beaten just three lengths by winner Activist Investing, in an upper level, $75,000 optional claiming on Oct. 17 during the Belmont at Big A meet. That was one of only two finishes out of the top two in eight starts this year for Dear Dad, who was fourth in the $151,000 Colonial Cup going a mile-and-a-half on the Colonial Downs turf on Sept. 6.
The 5-year-old gelded son of Ocala Stud’s leading sire Khozan started the year at Gulfstream Park, where he won a first level, $20,000 optional claiming going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on synthetic on Jan. 22 and a first level, $25,000 optional claiming over a mile on the grass on June 21. In his next start, he took a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming going a mile on the turf at Colonial on Aug. 6.
Consistently in the top three throughout his 18-race career, Dear Dad has earned $259,600 from four wins, seven seconds and three thirds. He is out of the Mizzen Mast mare Table for Six and was bred in Florida by Haras Buen Borincano Inc.
Arriaga has assigned Jaime Rodriguez to ride Dear Dad from post one and they are 10-1 on the morning line.
Ohana Honor has been sent to New York from Kentucky for the Knickerbocker by trainer Shug McGaughey and owners West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing LLC, Edward Hudson Jr. and Lynne Hudson.
The 5-year-old ridgling is the 7-5 morning line favorite coming out of a fourth-place finish, three lengths behind winner Desvio in the mile-and-a-half Sycamore (Grade 1) at Keeneland on Oct. 10. That was his second start off a nearly 11-month layoff after returning Aug. 28 to finish second in the $500,000 Tapit won by Lagynos going a mile-and-70-yards over the undulating turf at Kentucky Downs.
His last victory came in April of last year against allowance horses racing a mile-and-a-half on the turf at Keeneland.
Ohana Honor sports $553,897 in earnings from three wins, five seconds and three thirds from 18 career starts.
By Honor Code out of Spacy Tracy, by Awesome Again, Ohana Honor will be ridden from post four by Flavien Prat.
Rounding out the field are Fuerteventura with Ruben Silvera aboard, Trikari has John Velazquez taking the riding assignment, Ohio Joe with Anthony Salgado in the saddle, Julio Hernandez will guide Signator, Air Recruit and jockey Dylan Davis and Manny Franco has the call on Naptown.
Return to the November 14 issue of Wire to Wire
