Knicks Go Readies for Breeders' Cup in Lukas Classic

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go  carries high expectations into the $400,000 Lukas Classic Stakes (G3) Oct. 2 at Churchill Downs, a 1 1/8-mile event that is expected to be his final prep race for the Nov. 6 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Winner of the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland a year ago, the 5-year-old son of Paynter   captured the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park early this year. Then, after two fourth-place finishes around one turn, he rebounded to take the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) before stepping back up to top-level company and capturing the Aug. 7 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course over fellow grade 1 winner Maxfield .

While Maxfield will run in this weekend's Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park ahead of a hopeful Classic bid, Knicks Go will stay home at trainer Brad Cox's Churchill Downs base. The Woodward is the same distance as the Lukas Classic, but around only one turn at Belmont Park.

"This race is a good spot for him leading into the Breeders' Cup," Cox had said leading up to the Lukas Classic. "He came out of the Whitney really well and we got him back home to Churchill where he's settled in nicely. He's a horse that does his best running around two turns."

Cox also entered Godolphin's Shared Sense , a 4-year-old son of Street Sense   who last out took the non-black-type Tri-State Overnight Stakes at Ellis Park the same day Knicks Go won the Whitney. Last year Shared Sense won the Indiana Derby (G3) and Oklahoma Derby (G3).

Another contender entering off a win is Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Sprawl , a 4-year-old City Zip  colt who took the Aug. 7 West Virginia Governor's Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. Trained by Tommy Drury, he was third in the June 26 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill and third, beaten only a head, in the May 29 Blame Stakes at the Louisville, Ky., track.

Knicks Go will again face Juddmonte's Tacitus . The two last met in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup (G1), in which Tacitus finished seventh, three spots behind Knicks Go. The 5-year-old son of Tapit  , a $3.7 million earner trained by Bill Mott, will be making his first start since that effort. 

The Lukas Classic lineup also includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, WinStar Farm, and Kathleen and Robert Verratti's Independence Hall . Trained by Michael McCarthy, the 4-year-old Constitution   colt has placed in two of four starts this year, including when third to Knicks Go in the Pegasus World Cup.

Grade 2 winner Chess Chief , trained by Dallas Stewart for the Estate of James J. Coleman Jr., rounds out the field.

Churchill Downs' Saturday card also includes the $300,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at a mile. Among the 11 entries is Stonestreet Stables' undefeated Beau Liam , a 3-year-old Liam's Map   colt facing older rivals. The Ack Ack will be the first stakes attempt for the Steve Asmussen trainee, who broke his maiden in May at Churchill Downs before taking two allowance races at Saratoga. Last out he won by six lengths when racing 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 29. 

Trainer Wayne Catalano said Oct. 1 that Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Aloha West will scratch from the Ack Ack in favor of running in the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2) Oct. 8 at Keeneland. Aloha West had been the projected second choice in the wagering behind Beau Liam.