Gulfstream: Still rolling at 9, Red Knight captures McKnight

Trainer Mike Maker managed to top his previous four victories in the Grade 3, $150,000 William L. McKnight by saddling the top three finishers in Saturday’s 1 1/2-mile turf stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Trinity Farm’s 9-year-old Red Knight ($8.60) won the McKnight by a length over stablemate Value Engineering, who went off at 10-1. It was another length back to 45-1 long shot Wicked Fast with another Maker-trained horse, Temple, running fifth.

“One, two, three and five," Maker said afterward. "We just missed the superfecta. Every horse ran a great race and I’m proud.”

Maker picked up his first McKnight win in 2017 and repeated in 2018. His runners finished first and second in the 2019 and 2021 editions of the race.

Red Knight, Trinity Farm’s homebred son of Pure Prize, earned his 11th victory in 32 career starts. He spent the early years of his career with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and was transferred to Maker’s care in 2022. He has three wins in five starts for Maker.

Bidding to repeat in the McKnight, the favorite Abaan, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, quickly grabbed the lead in the three-turn test and led the way early with a quarter-mile in 24.18 seconds. Agitare moved up to provide pace pressure and the half-mile was run in 48.27 seconds, and the three-quarters went in 1:12.67.

Red Knight and others closers arrived in the stretch, moved into contention and surged to the lead.

“Thank God I had a good trip from tough post 11," Ortiz said of the trip. "He’s perfect for the distance because he relaxes very well. With five furlongs to go he started to gain ground on the outside and I just let him do his thing.”

The winning time was 2:25.11 over a firm course.