Knicks Go using Lukas Classic to prep for Breeders' Cup Classic

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Knicks Go, the leader of the older male dirt division, will use the Grade 3, $400,000 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Oct. 2 as his prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, trainer Brad Cox said Friday.

While Knicks Go is still in Saratoga, Cox said plans call for him to ship to Churchill when that track reopens its backside, expected to be right after Labor Day. The Lukas Classic is eight weeks from the Grade 1 Whitney, which Knicks Go won on Aug. 7, and five weeks from the Breeders’ Cup.

“Where it falls on the calendar, not having to ship makes the most sense with obviously the plan being the Breeders’ Cup,” Cox said. “He was able to pick off two Grade 1’s this year. There are not a lot of options out there, but I thought that one made the most sense in regards to getting a race underneath of him before the Breeders’ Cup.”

Knicks Go won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup in January. He also won the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows in July.

Cox said Knicks Go has come out of the Whitney “awesome” and is training daily in Saratoga.

“He’s settled in well,” Cox said. “Dustin Dugas, my assistant, has been getting on him and has gotten along with him extremely well. We’ll just leave him be until we can get into Churchill.”

Cox said Knicks Go could work once or twice before he ships to Kentucky.