Knicks Go tops 2018 list of Maryland-bred champions

Knicks Go, an Eclipse Awards finalist for 2-year-old male, was named Maryland-bred Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old male Tuesday night at the Renaissance Awards in Baltimore.

Knicks Go, a son of Paynter, was bred in Maryland by Angie Moore and is owned by KRA Stud Farm and trained by Ben Colebrook. He won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Still Having Fun and Laki, who are expected to meet in Saturday’s Grade 3 General George at Laurel Park, also were honored.

Still Having Fun, who is owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Terp Racing and is trained by Tim Keefe, was voted statebred champion 3-year-old male and champion sprinter. He won three stakes last year, topped by the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park.

Laki is the statebred champion older male of 2018. He won 3 of 9 starts, including two statebred stakes, and finished second in the Grade 3 De Francis Dash for Hillside Equestrian Meadows and trainer Damon Dilodovico.

The other equine champions of 2018 are I’m Betty G, turf horse and older female; Blamed, 3-year-old filly; Brucia La Terra, 2-year-old filly; Dawn Wall, Steeplechase; Casual Kiss, the dam of Still Having Fun, broodmare; and Great Notion, who was voted champion stallion for the third straight year.

Claudio Gonzalez and Jorge Vargas Jr. were the top trainer and jockey, Super C Racing was top owner, and the Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds of Richard Golden was leading breeder.