Mission accomplished: Operation Red Dawn wins Belmont’s Knickerbocker
By APThursday, October 22, 2009
Operation Red Dawn wins the Knickerbocker
NEW YORK — Operation Red Dawn beat Lemon Cream Pie by 1½ lengths Thursday in the $106,500 Knickerbocker Stakes on the turf at Belmont Park.
Saving all the ground until midstretch, Operation Red Dawn reeled in the pacesetting Lemon Cream Pie for his fifth win in 25 starts, and first this year in four tries. A 7-year-old gelding trained by Christophe Clement, Operation Red Dawn ran the 1 1-8 miles in 1:50.21 on the course labeled good.
Rajiv Maragh was aboard as Operation Red Dawn paid $7, $3.70 and $2.30. Lemon Cream Pie returned $5.20 and $3.30. Brave Tin Soldier paid $2.20 to show.
The Knickerbocker, originally scheduled for last Sunday, was postponed when wet weather shut down Belmont’s turf course for the weekend.
