'A champion now:' Knicks Go cruises in Breeders' Cup Classic

Del Mar, Calif.

The question entering the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic was who in the field of eight would challenge speedy Knicks Go for the early lead as he tried to navigate 1 1/4 miles for the first time.

As it turns out, the answer was no one and the race was finished.

Knicks Go broke on top, set an uncontested pace under Joel Rosario and motored through the stretch to win the Grade 1, $6 million Classic by 2 3/4 lengths over Medina Spirit to lock up Horse of the Year honors for trainer Brad Cox.

“He’s a tremendous horse, a champion now,” Cox said. 

Stablemate Essential Quality, last year’s champion juvenile and a contender for champion 3-year-old honors along with Medina Spirit, finished 3/4 lengths back of the Kentucky Derby winner in third. He was followed across the wire by fellow sophomore Hot Rod Charlie in fourth.

“He ran a tremendous race,” Cox said of Knicks Go. “He broke and was able to establish position early. Once he was able to do that, he’s a hard horse to catch. I’m very proud of him.”

Finishing behind the top four in order were Stilleto Boy, Art Collector, Tripoli, and Max Player.

Knicks Go found himself on an unchallenged lead in the Classic partially because of the start by Medina Spirit, noted his jockey John Velazquez. He added the effort by Medina Spirit to finish ahead of both Essential Quality and Hot Rod Charlie should be enough to make him the champion 3-year-old over those two rivals.

“I broke slow and by the wire the first time I had to take a hold of him,” Velazquez said. “I gave him his head around the first turn and around the second turn he came running and kept running. Who’s the best 3-year-old now?”

Medina Spirit’s trainer, Bob Baffert, echoed the sentiment.

“I’m very proud of him, he ran a great race,” Baffert said. “The winner was just too much. I’m proud of the fact he showed today that he beat those 3-year-olds. To me, he’s the best 3-year-old. He showed it today. That’s what racing is all about, proving it on the racetrack. Today he proved he’s the real deal.”

Knicks Go ushered the field through fractions of 23.16, 45.77, 1:10.04 and after the mile in 1:35.28, held a one-length lead over Hot Rod Charlie with Essential Quality and Medina Spirit each making up ground. But in the final quarter mile, there was no catching Knicks Go as he kicked clear through the stretch and cruised under the wire a clear-cut victor.

Knicks Go, who rewarded his backers with an $8.40 win mutuel as the 3-1 co-second choice with Hot Rod Charlie, won in a final time of 1:59.57. Adding to his win in last year’s Dirt Mile at Keeneland for owner Korea Racing Authority, Knicks Go became the sixth horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup races.

“We had a beautiful trip,” said Rosario, who won his second Classic and 15th Breeders’ Cup race overall. “He does exactly what he wants to do. I tried to save as much ground as I could because we had a mile-and-a-quarter to go. But he was going easy. At the quarter pole he just took off again. He’s just an amazing horse.”

A 5-year-old horse by Paynter out of the Outflanker mare Kosmo’s Buddy, Knicks Go entered the Classic having won four of six starts this year, including the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park and Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

The Classic will be potentially followed with a start in January's rich Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park to end Knicks Go's career. He is slated to stand next breeding season at Taylor Made Farm in central Kentucky.

“He’s built for American racing on the dirt,” said Cox, who earned his first Classic win and eighth overall Breeders’ Cup tally. “That’s what he’s done, and I hope he’ll pass it off to his offspring.

“He was a Grade 1 winner at 2, obviously (former trainer) Ben Colebrook was responsible for that, he did a great job with him. He was a Grade 1 winner at 4 and 5, he’s traveled around the world and he’s a very tough, durable horse. I’m so proud of what he’s accomplished. Hopefully, he’ll pass it on as a stallion.”

Knicks Go closed out 2021 with a career record of 24: 10-3-1 and earnings of more than $8.67 million.