Knicks Go goes distance, wires field in Breeders’ Cup Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. — Demonstrating that helium possesses plentifulness of stamina to spell with his trademark superb speed, Knicks Go led each measurement of the mode and won Saturday’s $6 cardinal Breeders’ Cup Classic astatine Del Mar.

The 2¾-length triumph implicit Medina Spirit cemented Horse of the Year honors for the Brad Cox-trained 5-year-old, who had ne'er raced astatine the classical region of 1¼ miles successful his 23 erstwhile races. The triumph was his 5th successful a Grade 1 stakes and his 2nd successful the Breeders’ Cup, capturing the Dirt Mile past year.

Sent disconnected arsenic the 3-1 2nd prime successful the wagering down stablemate Essential Quality, the lad of Paynter broke sharply from the gross nether jockey Joel Rosario and rapidly secured the lead. His nearest rivals laid backmost alternatively than hazard ruining their chances of a large payday by engaging with a equine who had been successful beforehand astatine the archetypal telephone successful each of his 9 erstwhile victories.

Cox said helium didn’t cognize what to expect erstwhile the gates opened.

“I didn’t truly cognize what the tactics from the different trainers and jockeys would be,” helium said. “I benignant of felt similar if they did effort to spell wit him they whitethorn jeopardize their ain accidental to triumph the race.”

The aboriginal fractions were fast, with the archetypal 6 furlongs going successful 1:10.04 and the mile successful 1:35.28. By the clip helium reached the backstretch, Knicks Go had opened astir 3 lengths connected his pursuers, allowing Rosario to springiness him a speedy breather earlier they turned up the heat.

A situation materialized concisely entering the stretch, erstwhile Hot Rod Charlie moved up on the obstruction and concisely drew wrong astir a magnitude arsenic the victor drifted retired to toward the mediate of the track. But Knicks Go switched gears and rapidly repelled Hot Rod Charlie, who faded to 4th arsenic the Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit and Essential Quality surged past successful fruitless pursuit of the winner. The last clip was a sparkling 1:59.57.

His owner, the Korean Racing Authority, named him aft a proprietary a genome enactment programme known arsenic K-Nicks, which they usage to prime horses for acquisition that person optimal chances of becoming apical racehorses and stallions.

The Classic is expected to beryllium the last contention of Knicks Go’s career, aft it was announced successful October that helium volition discontinue to Taylor Made Stallions successful Nicholasville, Kentucky. His stud interest is expected to beryllium announced soon.

The contention capped a palmy 2 days of racing astatine Del Mar, unmarred by immoderate reported injuries to horses oregon humans contempt Friday’s scary incidental successful which Juvenile Turf entrant Albahr flipped successful the starting gate. Trainer Charlie Appleby, who won 3 Breeders’ Cup races for owner/breeder Godolphin, the racing unchangeable of Dubai’s ruling Maktoum family, said the 2-year-old appeared to prolong lone insignificant cuts and bruises successful the incident.

Del Mar reported that much than 20,000 fans attended Friday’s races, with different 26,553 turning retired for the Saturday card.

Wagering connected the Breeders’ Cup races acceptable a grounds with much than $182 cardinal stake astir the globe.

Mike Brunker’s equine racing file appears Fridays. He tin beryllium reached astatine mbrunker@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-4656. Follow @mike_brunker connected Twitter.