Cox to Map Course to BC Classic for Knicks Go

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go  was in fine form the morning of Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course, one day after he defeated a compact but talented group of graded stakes-winning millionaires in the Whitney Stakes (G1).

Trained by Brad Cox, Knicks Go collected a berth to the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar along with his fourth grade 1 win. Cox said he has not yet made plans for a next start for the 5-year-old son of Paynter  , but he would like to race him once before the Breeders' Cup Classic.

"We'll let the dust settle, but my thoughts would be to give him a race five to six weeks out (from the Breeders' Cup Classic)," Cox said. "I haven't really dug into it yet, the biggest thing is how he came out of yesterday's race. It would be nice to get a race into him between now and then, but where that might be I don't know.

"I was really pleased with how he looked this morning. He ate up well, so everything is really positive."

Since moved to Cox prior to his 4-year-old campaign, Knicks Go has won six of eight starts, including the 2020 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). He was fourth in the Saudi Cup and Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) before rebounding to win the July 2 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3).

Cox said Knicks Go has taken big leaps forward in his 2021 campaign. 

"He was a very good horse last year and he's a better horse now," Cox said. "Last year he was able to win the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile against a great group of horses. He had one prep going into that about five weeks out. This year, he's been able to race throughout the winter and rebounded well. He's had three races this summer, so he's been campaigned with more foundation this year, so I just have to think he's a better horse. He's a more accomplished horse and built a nice foundation."

Future race plans have yet to be made for Godolphin's homebred Maxfield , who finished second 4 1/2 lengths behind Knicks Go in the Whitney, according to trainer Brendan Walsh.

"He ran great and we're very proud of him as always. He put in a good effort," Walsh said. "He beat some nice horses and got beat by a very good horse. It happens. Brad's horse is a very good horse and when he gets alone on the lead, he's very tough to beat. He ran well and it's a little more experience for him.

"We'll leave him here for a while and see how he comes out of it and come up with a plan."

Peter Callahan's filly Swiss Skydiver  finished fourth in the Whitney, her first start since placing third in the April 17 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1). The 2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner trainec by Kenny McPeek was placed under quarantine after a filly that resided in the same barn tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus-1. 

Assistant trainer Francis Chiumiento said he was proud of the performance by Swiss Skydiver, who was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time.

"I thought she proved how good she is and Irad was really happy with how she ran," Chiumiento said. "He felt she had a shot to win at some point. These are all good indicators. She came back well and she's happy and content.

"I brought her in here around June 18 and she was doing everything just great. We were going to run in the Shuvee and the (Aug. 28) Personal Ensign (G1) and then the outbreak happened. Thank God we contained it and none of our horses were affected. We did everything right."

Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circles Stables' King Fury , also trained by McPeek, finished 10th in Saturday's Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T).

Chiumiento said Curlin   colt should benefit from the experience as he points to the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) back on dirt.

"He was hung out wide the whole time," Chiumiento said. "He needed a race, too. Unfortunately, we were using a $1 million race as a prep. He handled the turf well but he was wide the whole time. He needed that race to tighten him up and I think he'll be very strong for the Travers. He came back happy and walked great this morning."

Trainer Bret Calhoun said he experienced "the highs and lows of racing in a matter of 10 minutes" after seeing Mr. Wireless  capture the West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Racetrack Casino & Resort before saddling By My Standards  to a fifth-place finish in the Whitney. 

Second in last year's Whitney to Improbable  , Allied Racing and Spendthrift Farm's By My Standards stumbled and lost a front left shoe a few strides after leaving the gate. Unable to catch Knicks Go, By My Standards trailed throughout finishing 15 1/2 lengths off the winner. 

Calhoun said By My Standards, a 5-year-old son of Goldencents  , emerged from the race in good order.

"For what he went through he came back pretty well, better than expected," Calhoun said. "He stumbled twice and wasn't going to do too well without a shoe. The foot is a little sore and we got lucky it didn't tear anything up. He's just a little bruised up is all."

Calhoun said By My Standards could target the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) Sept. 4 at Saratoga. The race would be another chance to earn a berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic. 

"The Whitney was a race we had dialed in for quite some time," Calhoun said. "Obviously, you don't know what to take from that race other than just drawing a line through it. We'll figure out where we go. I wouldn't think the Jockey Club is impossible. Knicks Go ran them off their feet, went fast early, and he kept on running. He just ran that race he ran in the Breeders' Cup."