Mark B. Grier’s Air Recruit, a 4-year-old Air Force Blue gelding trained by Arnaud Delacour, aims to bounce back in Saturday’s $150,000 Listed Knickerbocker Stakes at Aqueduct after finishing off the board in the Grade 3 Mint Millions. Returning from a 20-month layoff earlier this year, Air Recruit has shown strong form with two wins in 2025, including a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure while setting the pace in an optional claimer. Delacour plans to leverage Air Recruit’s tactical speed as the horse stretches out to nine furlongs for the first time.
The competitive field also includes notable runners such as Trikari, a Grade 1 Belmont Derby winner with over $1.4 million in earnings, and Ohana Honor, who boasts a 100 Beyer Speed Figure and a solid record under Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Other entrants include stakes winners Ohio Joe and Signator, stakes-placed Naptown, and graded stakes-placed Fuerteventura and Dear Dad. The Knickerbocker is Race 9 on a 10-race card at Aqueduct, with live coverage available on FOX Sports and wagering through the NYRA Bets app.
