2021 Breeders' Cup Classic: Knicks Go stakes claim to Horse of the Year
DEL MAR, Calif. – Win a $6 million race on Saturday night, enter horses for Aqueduct and Churchill Downs the next morning. Such was life for trainer Brad Cox on Sunday morning at Del Mar, where he reflected on the Breeders’ Cup Classic victory by Knicks Go while keeping his far-flung operation humming on all cylinders, with phone calls to New York and Kentucky.
Cox said both Knicks Go and Essential Quality, who finished third, emerged from the race well. Essential Quality has made his final start. He begins stud duty next spring at Darley America in Kentucky. Knicks Go also goes to stud next year, but is likely to race in the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29 before retiring, Cox said.
Cox called Knicks Go’s win “a big accomplishment,” as it secured for him both Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male.
“He’s been tremendous the last 13 or 14 months,” Cox said.
“He was always talented. Proved that as a 2-year-old,” Cox said, crediting former trainer Ben Colebrook, who in 2018 guided Knicks Go to a Grade 1 win in the Breeders’ Futurity and second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
“He went on the shelf, and we never thought we’d be in a position like this. But he trains well, just got better and better. He’s so cool to be around. Wants to go. Wants his peppermint. He’s durable, and very sound, very clean-legged.”
Cox said jockey Joel Rosario “has done a fastastic job” riding Knicks Go.
“The way he sits on him, the way he gets along with him,” Cox said.
Knicks Go received a Beyer Speed Figure of 112 for his win.
Cox said he had mixed emotions watching the race, for as happy as he was for Knicks Go, “I hated seeing Essential Quality get beat.”
“He probably didn’t get an ideal set-up,” Cox said. “Still, I thought he showed up and ran his race. He got past Hot Rod Charlie and made a run at Medina Spirit. First time racing against older horses.”
Both Knicks Go and Essential Quality are scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Tuesday, Cox said.
Medina Spirit, who finished second, “came out really well,” his trainer, Bob Baffert, said Sunday morning.
“He ran a big race,” Baffert said. “He didn’t get away well. I don’t know that we’d have beat the winner. He ran well. I’m proud of him.”
Medina Spirit will remain in training at age 4. He is owned by Amr Zedan of Saudi Arabia, and Baffert said the Saudi Cup, on Feb. 26, is the main early season goal for Medina Spirit.
Hot Rod Charlie, who finished fourth, “looks great this morning,” trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday.
Hot Rod Charlie, like fellow 3-year-old Medina Spirit, will race at 4 in 2022, O’Neill said. He said there were no immediate race plans for Hot Rod Charlie.
:: Join DRF Bets and play the races with a $250 First Deposit Bonus. Click to learn more.