Knicks Go adds more Breeders' Cup glory to his sireline

Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Knicks Go continued to extend the legacy of a sireline that has had its fair share of success in the Breeders’ Cup over the decades.

Knicks Go is a son of WinStar Farm stallion Paynter, a Grade 1 winner and runner-up in the 2012 Belmont Stakes who endeared himself to fans by overcoming a serious illness to resume racing. Paynter, in turn, is by Frank Stronach’s homebred Awesome Again, who defeated a star-studded field that included champions Skip Away and Silver Charm to win the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Awesome Again, who died last December, sired four Breeders’ Cup winners in 2004 Classic winner Ghostzapper, 2006 Distaff winner Round Pond, 2007 Distaff winner Ginger Punch, and 2004 Juvenile winner Wilko. He also displayed his ability to impart stamina by siring 2013 Preakness Stakes winner Oxbow and 2019 Belmont winner Sir Winston.

It is the brilliant Ghostzapper for whom Awesome Again is best known. The fellow Adena homebred emulated his sire with a Classic victory, leading all the way for a three-length victory in a track-record 1:59.02 for the mile and a quarter at Lone Star Park. The victory secured him a Horse of the Year title. Knicks Go drew comparisons to that relative by leading wire to wire at Del Mar, with his 2 3/4-length victory coming in 1:59.57, just 0.46 off Candy Ride’s track record. He is a virtual certainty to be voted Horse of the Year.

“It’s funny you ask about Ghostzapper, because I was a big fan of him,” Knicks Go’s trainer Brad Cox said. “I think the speed [Knicks Go] has, he’s built for American racing on the dirt. That’s what he’s done, and I’m hopeful that he’ll pass that on to his offspring.”

Knicks Go, who will enter stud at Taylor Made Farm in 2022, will look to join the likes of Awesome Again, Ghostzapper, Paynter, and Oxbow as a successful sire. Ghostzapper, who now stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm, is the sire of 13 Grade 1/Group 1 winners, including this year’s Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide and past Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Judy the Beauty.

Knicks Go is the top career earner for Paynter, who is also the sire of Grade 2 winner Lazy Daisy and Grade 3 winners Harpers First Ride and Ms Peintour.

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In addition to being by Awesome Again, Paynter has ties to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the bottom side of his pedigree. His dam, Tizso, is a full sister to Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Classic. The same female family and pedigree cross produced Oxbow – the sire of Grade 1 winner Hot Rod Charlie. This year’s Kentucky Derby third-place finisher and Belmont runner-up, Hot Rod Charlie was fourth to Knicks Go in the Classic.