Knicks Go makes it clear: He can run with the best

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Knicks Go passed a couple of big tests with his decisive victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream Park by proving he can stay nine furlongs against the very best competition - and by doing so over a racetrack he’d never run on before.

He also passed another important test early that same evening, as trainer Brad Cox explained Sunday.

“He looks good coming out of the race, he seemed to bounce out of it well, and he scoped clean, which is important because obviously that was the first time we’ve run him with no Lasix," Cox said. "He never had a history of bleeding, but it’s always a little bit of a question the first time, and this gives us confidence moving forward, whether we go to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, or even in future races in this country where running without Lasix in stakes is becoming so prevalent now.”

While Cox stayed behind in South Florida another day to inspect the rest of his troops stabled at the Palm Meadows training facility, Knicks Go wasted little time getting out of town. He boarded a flight early Sunday that had him back in his regular stall at the Fair Grounds by noon Central time.

Cox reiterated Sunday what he said immediately after the race: how proud he was of Knicks Go and his performance in registering a relatively easy 2 3/4-length victory over Jesus’ Team under regular rider Joel Rosario in the Pegasus.

“I’d definitely compare his race yesterday every bit with the one he ran winning the Dirt Mile,” Cox said. “The times he posted in the Breeders’ Cup were incredibly quick, but enhanced a little bit by a souped-up racetrack. I thought the track at Gulfstream Park was pretty honest yesterday, so for him to throw down a 23 quarter and 46 half and carry on the way he did to the wire was equally as impressive.”

The Beyer Speed Figures folks thought so as well, assigning Knicks Go a 108 for the Pegasus, equaling the figure he earned for his victory 11 weeks earlier in the Dirt Mile.

As for the near future, Cox said no decision has been made as to what might be next for Knicks Go, who earned an expense-free berth into the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 with the Pegasus victory. The $12 million Dubai World Cup on March 27 is also an option.

Knicks Go is owned by the Korea Racing Authority.

“We’ll let the dust settle and see how things unfold over the next few days, although we’ll have to start making plans soon if we decide to go the Saudi route with the race coming up in only four weeks,” Cox said. “For the moment, I’d say we’re not leaning one way or the other.”