Kaigun Stretches Out Again in McKnight

Kaigun will attempt to close out 2015 on a high note Dec. 26 when he faces 11 rivals in the $100,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Mark Casse for the partnership of Gary Barber, Quintessential Florida Racing and Horse'n Around Stable, Kaigun has proven to be a versatile performer at a variety of distances. He won a pair of graded events in 2014—the Play the King Stakes (Can-IIT) at seven furlongs at Woodbine and the Seabiscuit Handicap (gr. IIT) over 8 1/2 panels at Del Mar—but he will be looking for his first victory of the year in the 1 1/2-mile McKnight.

The 5-year-old son of Northern Afleet   was a credible fourth over that distance in the $1 million Canadian International (Can-IT) in October and most recently rallied for second in the Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIIT) over 11 furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack on Nov. 14. Kaigun also ran fifth, beaten just over a length by champion Main Sequence, in the 2014 United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) at 11 furlongs over the Monmouth Park turf course.

"We don't really know what his best distance is, to be honest," Casse said. "He's done a little bit of everything. We thought maybe now that he's gotten a little bit older, he doesn't have quite as much speed. When we looked back at when he did run long, at the time who would have known how good those horses would be, like (Main Sequence)? So we decided to run him long again, and his last race was a very good race."

Kaigun has raced twice on the Gulfstream grass, capturing an allowance affair in February 2014. He has recorded three workouts since arriving at Palm Meadows Training Center, including a half-mile move in :49 on the turf last Saturday. Casse believes the millionaire is finally primed for a big effort in the McKnight, when he will be partnered by jockey Joe Bravo.

"He's been training really well," Casse said. "He's kind of a funny horse. He's almost roly-poly; I call him my little butterball. He's not easy to get fit and ready. I think it's taken him a few starts to come back this year, but he's back at the top of his game again. We're expecting big things from him. If there's no speed he can be on the lead, but we'll leave that up to Joe."

Kaigun will carry 119 pounds in the McKnight, and will break from post 10.

Trainer Mike Maker will saddle Da Big Hoss, who has proven to be an exceptional claim for Skychai Racing. The partnership picked him up for $50,000 out of a winning effort at Churchill Downs in June. Two starts later, the 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid   scored over 1 5/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course in the $100,000 John's Call Stakes on Aug. 26. He came from well back to annex the $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup (gr. IIIT) on September 14, and most recently finished sixth in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Keeneland on Halloween.

Da Big Hoss, the 120-pound McKnight highweight, will have leading rider Javier Castellano in the irons when he breaks from the 11 hole.

Charming Kitten, a two-time winner over the Gulfstream turf course, will represent the Todd Pletcher barn in the McKnight. Campaigned by breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey, the 5-year-old son of Kitten's Joy   is coming off a wide trip when sixth in the Red Smith. Jockey John Velazquez will have the mount on Charming Kitten, who secured post 9.

Hollywood Idol, a $650,000 yearling purchase by Whisper Hill Farm, will make his stakes debut from the outside post in the McKnight for trainer Ralph Nicks. A son of Smart Strike out of grade I winner Hollywood Story, the 4-year-old colt paired up front-running victories on the grass at Gulfstream earlier this season. He stretched out to 11 furlongs for a Belmont Park allowance on Oct. 15 and finished second to Mr Maybe, who subsequently won the Red Smith. Jockey Jose Caraballo, a perfect 2-for-2 aboard Hollywood Idol, will be in the saddle.

Also prominent in the McKnight field are Morning Calm, winner of the Raymond Earl Handicap in May over this course and distance; Roman Approval, third to Da Big Hoss in the Kentucky Cup Turf; and War Dancer, who missed by a neck to two-time McKnight winner Twilight Eclipse in the Man O'War Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont.

Beyond Smart, Roccia d'Oro, St. Albans Boy, Manchurian High, and Amigo will complete the McKnight lineup.