On October 6, a large and talented field of two-year-old colts paraded valiantly to post for the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (Gr.1) at Keeneland Racecourse. Among the assembly were several standout runners, who were each respected with a shot to win. However, there was one horse lost in the shuffle that got little to no attention. That horse was 70-1 longshot, Knicks Go. But it would be he who had the last laugh that day, because the minute those starting gates launched open, Knicks Go went right for the prize, and never looked back.
Driven by fierce determination and the unwavering will to win, Knicks Go outran his odds as well as his competition, boldly leading the fray from start to finish in the Breeders' Futurity. The race was finished solo, as Knicks Go pulled away to win by 5 1/2 lengths before the stunned crowd. The stouthearted Maryland-bred thundered over the finish line in a final time of 1:44.23 for the 1 1/16 mile event, decisively declaring himself as a newly crowned grade 1 winner, and cinching a place in the starting gate for the prestigious $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Gr.1) at Churchill Downs.
It's not everyday that the longest shot on the board jumps up to win a grade 1 race, but as Knicks Go proved, nothing is impossible when it comes to the unpredictable sport of horse racing. But despite the fact that Knicks Go dominated his rivals by open lengths, and despite the fact that he was training like a total beast leading up to his next start, Knicks Go once again found himself labeled as an underdog coming into the Breeders' Cup. He was handed daunting morning line odds of 30-1, which steadily climbed to 40-1 by the time the field assembled for the 1 1/16 mile event.
Knicks Go was no stranger to outrunning his odds and shocking his rivals. The public may have been quick to count him out again, but Knicks Go didn't know that. He took his place in the starting gate unabashed by his massive odds and stiff competition, and was fully prepared to run his race.
The starting gates sprung open for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the stampede began in a frenzy. Knicks Go wasted no time making his move and swiftly catapulted from his post. With his raw speed and sharp turn of foot, Knicks Go thundered his way toward the front of the pack where he tucked in comfortably behind the pacesetter, Complexity. The undefeated winner of the Champagne Stakes (Gr.1) brazenly showed the way, with Knicks Go tracking him hotly along the way. Behind them was a mob of rivals in hot pursuit, all vying for the same coveted prize.
As the field approached the final turn, Knicks Go began to make his move. Steadily unfolding his massive stride, the 40-1 longshot began hounding Complexity for every step. The pair soon drew even, and it quickly became apparent that the undefeated Complexity was no match for the big, gray longshot that was breathing down his neck. With a powerful kick of his legs, Knicks Go charged forward and took command. For the second time in a row, Knicks Go found himself in front in the stretch of a grade 1 race, and once again, he was starting to pull away.
The crowd roared in shock and amazement as the forgotten underdog put on a show. Knicks Go stormed down the stretch of Churchill Downs with authority, and for a moment, he looked home free. But then, from out of the clouds came the undefeated, multiple grade 1 winning colt, Game Winner. Sensing the oncoming challenge, Knicks Go dug in gamely and hightailed it toward the wire. Game Winner was gaining on him, but each time it looked as if he were about to go by, Knicks Go would shut him down and find more. As the duel raged on, the determined pair drew closer and closer, battling each other tooth and nail. Neither colt wanted to give in to defeat, and in a dramatic display of tenacity and heart, the unflappable youngsters pounded toward the wire together.
Knicks Go put on an absolute display of valor and grit in the stretch. The gallant son of Paynter was unwilling to yield to the overwhelming confrontation of his rival, but in the final strides of the race, Game Winner found just a little more. With a desperate thrush, Game Winner pounced forward in time to seize the lead and claim the race. Not far behind, Knicks Go stubbornly held on for second, valiantly leaving his 11 remaining foes in his dust.
It is fair to say that Knicks Go gained more than he lost in defeat on that fateful day at Churchill Downs. In the past, the plucky youngster never got the respect he deserved. Forgotten and dismissed as a longshot in his races, and always viewed as an underdog, Knicks Go silenced those who doubted him with his thrilling runner-up effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He proved that his shocking victory in the Breeders' Futurity was no fluke, and showed the world that he has what it takes to hold his own against the best of his class on racing's biggest stage.
If victory was measured by courage, it is safe to say that Knicks Go would have been declared a champion for his effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In the stretch, he showed a rare level of determination that few can claim. And while he may have had to settle for second, his connections can rest easy in the fact that their horse ran a winning race that day. Knicks Go possesses an uncanny amount of grit, and an unwavering will to win. The relentless way in which he pursues victory, combined with his fierce competitive drive, makes him extremely dangerous to his rivals moving forward. This colt has an extremely bright future ahead of him, and an attitude that will take him far. I think it is safe to say that at this point, Knicks Go will be considered a longshot no more.
Thank you to Leila Elliot for the amazing pictures!
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