The $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar is a story easily told - Knicks Go jumped straight to the lead and refused to surrender it.
Last years Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero was unfazed by the extra distance of the Classic and looked as if he could do another lap with nothing getting close.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, the Brad Cox-trained 5yo son of Paynter put a two and three-quarter margin on the brave Medina Spirit with the winner’s stablemate Essential Quality a further three-quarter of a length back in third.
Campaigned by the Korea Racing Authority, Knicks Go almost certainly tied up Horse Of The Year honours while advancing his record to ten wins, three seconds and a third from 24 starts with earnings of over $8.6 million.
“Obviously, the race went really well. He broke and was able to establish position early,” Cox said.
“He's built for American racing on the dirt. That's what he's done and I'm hopeful that he'll pass that on to his offspring. He's got everything it takes to be a stallion.
“He's travelled around the world and he's a very tough, durable horse.
“He's extremely sound. I think we're in a day and age where horses go to stud so early and he's a little bit of a throwback horse in that he's raced at 4 and 5 and raced as much as he has. So very proud of what he has accomplished this year.
It was the third trip to the Breeders’ Cup for Knicks Go who finished runner-up in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when trained by Ben Colebrook.
Bred by Angie Moore, Knicks Go was purchased by the Korea Racing Authority for $87,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale after making $40,000 as a Keeneland weanling the previous November.
The son of the Awesome Again stallion Paynter and the stakes winning Outflanker mare Kosmo’s Buddy had long outperformed his trip to Korea and will stand at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky and the conclusion of his career on the track.
