Ewing puts Knicks Go in public eye during Keeneland September sale

The Korean Thoroughbred industry has long helped to fuel the second week of the Keeneland September yearling sale, which is crucial for the middle and lower marketplaces. Racing in Korea is conducted on dirt due to frequent wet weather, leading buyers representing that country to seek out American bloodstock to build the industry – although at relatively modest prices, as the national government, which regulates Thoroughbred activities, imposed a price limit on imported horses.

The Korea Racing Authority hit a home run when it purchased a Maryland-bred son of Paynter for $87,000 in the second week of the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale. Knicks Go, first trained by Ben Colebrook and later Brad Cox, went on to win seven graded stakes from ages 2 to 5 – with one start at age 6 – and earn more than $9.2 million. His wins included Grade 1 triumphs in the 2018 Breeders’ Futurity, 2020 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, and 2021 Pegasus World Cup, Whitney, and Breeders’ Cup Classic to secure Horse of the Year honors.

The KRA has stated its intention to eventually stand high-profile runners campaigned in its colors in South Korea, where it has imported a number of high-profile American runners to build the stallion roster. However, it struck a deal with Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky to stand Knicks Go.

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Although he has not been the easiest sell commercially, Knicks Go is now in a strong position as one of the nation’s leading freshman sires. His top son, Ewing, is being prepared for the Breeders’ Futurity and a possible start in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar – where Knicks Go concluded his own championship season.

Knicks Go covered a solid book of 151 mares in his first season at Taylor Made. That dropped to 79 mares in 2023 and 84 mares in 2024, a typical dip for a stallion early in his career until their progeny prove out on the racetrack. Last year, he averaged a modest $53,979 from 71 yearlings sold at public auction.

“It’s been a very tough road with Knicks Go – being by Paynter, people didn’t like that,” said Frank Taylor, director of new business development for the Taylor Made operation. “He’s not an overly big horse. But the thing he is, is he’s as good a racehorse as anybody.

“You never know if they’re going to pass that on or not. But he could run long, he could run short, he could run early, he could run late. He was just a top, top, top racehorse, and I think he’s got a very bright future.”

Through Sept. 8, Knicks Go was the sire of 12 individual winners from his first crop of 2-year-olds. He ranks second in the class by winners to Yaupon, and is third by freshman earnings to Yaupon and Maxfield, both of whom bred more mares than him.

Ewing was overlooked as a $37,000 buyback late in last fall’s Keeneland September sale. However, after a winter and spring of development and training, Ewing impressed at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s spring sale of 2-year-olds in training and was purchased for $484,000 by D. J. Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds. After a 12-length debut win at Saratoga, Ewing captured the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in an effort more impressive than the one-length margin indicated, as he broke slowly, rushed up for the lead, and then turned back all comers.

“It’s just so good to see [Knicks Go] produce one like himself,” Taylor said. “What a beautiful horse this horse is. . . . He didn’t have it an easy way, rushing up and then carrying on. He showed a lot of heart, like his daddy. [Knicks Go] was some kind of racehorse. Courageous. It’s great to see him get a good one.”

Knicks Go has 13 second-crop yearlings in the catalog for the 2025 Keeneland September sale – all in Books 4 or 5. One is consigned by Taylor Made Sales, which is active through all books, and is a perennial leading consignor. Last year, the family operation again led all consignors by gross sales, for the ninth time in the last 10 editions.

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Meanwhile, Korea will continue its buying activity while looking for the next Knicks Go. The KRA has placed restrictions on its international purchases of young horses, begun during the pandemic and intended to support Korean breeders and stallions by pushing buyers to buy locally rather than overseas.

Still, the industry’s buying arms have remained active at this auction. Looking at the last three years, under the Korea Racing Authority name or another moniker it uses, K.O.I.D., the country purchased 18 horses for a total of $979,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale. It purchased 20 for $611,000 in 2023, and eight for $457,000 in 2024. The final group was led by a $150,000 Knicks Go colt, now named Essence of Knicks.

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