Knicks Go wins easily in final Breeders' Cup Classic prep

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Knicks Go easily passed his final test for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in a front-running score Saturday in the Grade 3, $337,000 Lukas Classic, highlight of the penultimate card of the 12-day, dirt-only September meet at Churchill Downs.

In control from the opening strides of the 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic, Knicks Go never felt the sting of jockey Joel Rosario’s whip in a four-length jaunt over Independence Hall.

Knicks Go returned a mere $2.20 as a huge favorite in a field of six older horses. His winning time of 1:47.85 over a fast surface was only .57 second off the track record set by Victory Gallop more than 22 years ago. The time earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, off his best numbers for the year, but he obviously could have run faster.

Brad Cox, who trains Knicks Go for the Korea Racing Authority, said afterward he was happy with how the Lukas Classic will set up the 5-year-old horse for the $6 million BC Classic, a 1 1/4-mile race set for Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

“He’s pretty solid around two turns,” said Cox. “That’s his trip.”

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“You know, he goes fast, and he just keeps going,” said Rosario, in from New York for another big day on this circuit. “He’s a pretty unbelievable horse.”

Knicks Go was coming off a similarly dominant triumph in the Grade 1 Whitney eight weeks ago at Saratoga. Since Cox assumed his training a little less than two years ago, the gray son of Paynter now has won seven of nine starts, including wins in three Grade 1s.

As a Maryland-bred, Knicks Go was ineligible for his share of $100,000 in Kentucky-bred bonuses that was part of the purse. He earned $184,140, taking his career bankroll to $5,553,135.

Independence Hall finished well to be another 1 1/2 lengths before a second Cox trainee, Shared Sense. Tacitus, the 6-1 second choice making his first start in more than seven months, was another head back in fourth.

The $2 exacta (2-5) paid $7.80, the $1 trifecta (2-5-4) returned $19.80, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-5-4-3) was worth $5.04.

This race is a tribute to D. Wayne Lukas, the still-active 86-year-old Hall of Fame trainer who was on hand to present the winner’s trophy. It was run some 10 hours after Cox put his other major contender for the BC Classic, Essential Quality, through a pre-dawn, five-furlong workout in 59.20 seconds. Essential Quality, the current leader of the 3-year-old division, is training straight into the BC Classic off a victory in the Aug. 28 Travers.

Churchill closes the meet Sunday with mandatory payouts in all wagering pools. Keeneland starts its 17-day fall meet Friday.

Plainsman wins Ack Ack

An hour or so after the Lukas Classic, Cox and Rosario were right back in the winner’s circle after Plainsman split rivals in midstretch for a mild upset in the Grade 3, $297,250 Ack Ack.

Carrying the Shortleaf Stable colors of John Ed Anthony, Plainsman won for the fourth time in his last five starts, including wins in two other stakes. The 6-year-old Flatter horse finished a length before Beau Liam, a previously unbeaten 3-year-old who was the 1-2 favorite in a field of nine. The winner paid $13.60 as third choice after finishing a one-turn mile in 1:33.85, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Turning for home I was looking for an opportunity,” said Rosario. “He was nice in the bridle for me and did what I asked of him.”

Atoka, a 40-1 shot for Lukas, led much of the trip before tiring for third, while Rushie flattened out late to finish fourth. Aloha West and Ebben were early scratches.

The win was the fifth of the day for Rosario, who also had a pair of five-win days last month during his record-setting meet at Kentucky Downs.

Cox said he will consult with Anthony about whether Plainsman will move forward to the Nov. 6 BC Dirt Mile at Del Mar.

The $2 exacta (7-10) paid $34, the $1 trifecta (7-10-8) returned $245.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-10-8-11) was worth $77.33.