A talented field of 13 two-year-olds paraded to post for the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (Gr.1) at Keeneland Racecourse on October 6. It was a wide-open race, filled with several colts who had the potential to march to victory in the 1 1/16 mile test. However, one horse that the public wasn't talking about was Korea Racing Authority's steel-colored colt, Knicks Go.
Dismissed and forgotten by the handicappers, Knicks Go took his place in the starting gate at staggering odds of 70-1. It appeared to the public that the young Maryland-bred was in over his head in this daunting position. However, nobody told Knicks Go that he wasn't supposed to win.
The starting gates sprung open and the field took off in a frenzy, fueled by the riveting roar of the crowd. Knicks Go charged brazenly from his post, fully prepared to go against all the odds. Extending his efficient stride, the silver son of Paynter stormed to the front and never looked back. With unyielding speed and fierce determination, Knicks Go confidently led the fray around the track. With such lofty odds, most people would have expected the daring longshot to weaken on the front end and become engulfed by the field, but with other plans in mind, Knicks Go just kept on rolling.
Furlong after furlong passed, and Knicks Go remained in command. As the final bend loomed ahead, the riders on the horses behind him began to realize they were in trouble, and urgently went to work on their mounts, imploring them for more. While rival horses and riders attempted to catch up to the runaway underdog, Knicks Go was only getting stronger, dismissing his rivals in much the same way that he was dismissed at the windows.
With a swift and decisive pump of his legs, Knicks Go soared into the stretch and mercilessly opened up on his competition. With breathtaking authority the intrepid youngster roared to a 5 1/2 length lead, leaving his competition as stunned as the crowd that watched the unbelievable scene unfold. In a surreal moment of sublimity and determination, a 70-1 underdog proved on one of Keeneland's biggest days of racing that he can indeed run with the best, and win. As the blindsided crowd reached a crescendo of amazement, Knicks Go pounded over the finish line all alone, stopping the clock in a final time of 1:44.23, and reminding all who witnessed that in this sport, anything goes.
In less than two minutes, Knicks Go went from an underdog to a grade 1 winner, bringing newfound success to those around him. By winning the Breeders' Futurity, Knicks Go handed his jockey, Albin Jenez, and his trainer, Ben Colebrook, each their first victory in a grade 1 race. He also became the first grade 1 winner for his sire, Paynter, who stands at WinStar Farm for a stud fee of $12,500.
Bred in Maryland by Angie and Sabrina Moore, Knicks Go is out of the Outflanker mare, Kosmo's Buddy, who scored big in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint Handicap back in 2008. Knicks Go was first sold for $40,000 to Northface Bloodstock through the consignment of Bill Reightler at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2016, and was later resold to Korea Racing Authority for a final price of $87,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale the following year.
Knicks Go kicked off his career in July, in a maiden special weight at Ellis Park. The iron beast dashed to victory in the five furlong event, and from there dove straight into stakes company. Knicks Go entered the Sanford Stakes (Gr.3) at Saratoga, but could do no better than fifth that day. His next start came in the Arlington-Washington Futurity over the synthetic strip of Arlington Park. The unflappable youngster improved from his previous start, running a game race to finish third. Knicks Go trained very forwardly from there, before going on to shock the racing world in the Breeders' Futurity.
Knicks Go's score in the Breeders' Futurity earned him an automatic berth into the prestigious Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Gr.1) on November 2, as the race was part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're in" challenge series. Colebrook said that a start in the illustrious event is "definitely" under consideration for his colt.
Just like that, Knicks Go went from a jilted 70-1 longshot to a grade 1 winner with a newfound world of opportunities. Not only does this gallant youngster have the opportunity to start in the Breeders' Cup and perform on a major stage of racing, but he also took a step in the right direction toward a potential start in the Kentucky Derby, come May. The Claiborne Breeders' Futurity awarded 10 coveted points toward the Kentucky Derby to the victor, giving the connections of Knicks Go reason to dream of roses. And while the first Saturday in May is a long way off, and a lot can and will happen between now and spring, the connections of this stouthearted Maryland-bred can rest easy knowing that for now, they are on the right path.
Thank you to Leila Elliot/Bits and Pieces for the beautiful photos of Knicks Go!
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