Messi flies home late to capture G3 Knickerbocker

Racing at the rear of the field throughout most of the race, Messi rallied strongly in the stretch to nail leader Cage Fighter at the wire to win the G3 Knickerbocker Stakes by a nose at Belmont Park.

The five-year-old gelded son of New Approach has now won three of four starts since arriving in North America. The Knickbocker was Messi’s first North American Graded Stakes win.

Messi was bred in Germany and races for his breeder, Gestut Brummerhof. He is out of the mare Messina, a winning daughter of Dashing Blade. Messina has also produced G2 winner McCartney, and hails from the female family of champions Majoritat and Moonlady.

In addition to Messi, New Approach is also the sire of 2015 Stakes winners Herald The Dawn, a full brother to Dawn Approach and winner of the G2 Futurity Stakes; Glamorous Approach, winner of the Zetland Stakes; and Beautiful Romance, winner of the August Stakes.