Knicks Go won't be overlooked in Kentucky Jockey Club

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Many horseplayers who thought the Breeders’ Futurity victory by Knicks Go at 70-1 was a fluke were probably mumbling a familiar adage to themselves after the speedy gray colt wrecked their exotic wagers by finishing second at 40-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile earlier this month at Churchill Downs.

But come Saturday, when Knicks Go goes favored in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes under the Churchill lights, most fans may have wearied of saying, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” They need only rely on their own eyes to believe that Knicks Go is a stone-cold runner and that fading the colt in the KJC will be done at their own peril.

Following a 5 1/2-length score in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity last month at Keeneland, Knicks Go was defeated only by Game Winner in the BC Juvenile when finishing ahead of 11 others.

“I’m not much of a gambler, but both times before his races I glanced at the toteboard and saw he was a big price,” said Ben Colebrook, who trains Knicks Go for the KRA Stud Farm. “I could understand it at Keeneland, but I was pretty surprised before the Juvenile.”

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Albin Jimenez once again has the call on Knicks Go, a son of Paynter who will break from post 13 in a field of 14 2-year-olds in the 92nd running of the $200,000 KJC Stakes. Assuming he breaks as swiftly as he has in his last two starts, Knicks Go should be able to offset the presumed disadvantage of that outside post and make himself an immediate factor in the 1 1/16-mile race.

“He’s done really well since the Breeders’ Cup,” said Colebrook. “He’s maintained his energy level, and obviously he’s plenty fit. We’re really excited about running him one more time this year. After this, he’ll get some time off before we start him back, most likely at Tampa.”

Among his main rivals is Signalman (post 1, Brian Hernandez Jr.), who was second in the Breeders’ Futurity, then further blew up the BC Juvenile mutuels when rallying from well back to finish third at 67-1 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

“He ran really big in the Juvenile, especially considering he broke from the 13-hole,” said McPeek.

The KJC is worth 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) toward the Kentucky Derby next May, which may partly explain the full field. In all, five KJC winners have returned the following spring to win the Derby, the latest being Super Saver (2009-10), whose trainer, Todd Pletcher, is represented in this renewal by the uncoupled duo of Current (post 9, Javier Castellano) and King for a Day (post 12, John Velazquez).

Current, heretofore a turf specialist, “has trained well enough [on dirt] that at some point we wanted to try it,” said Pletcher.

His last race, a seventh-place finish in the BC Juvenile Turf, “was a better race than it looked on paper,” Pletcher said.

“He turned his head just at the start and came away last,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher said that King for a Day, a last-out maiden winner at Belmont Park, has trained well.

“We feel confident that he’s a two-turn horse and we’re looking forward to seeing how he handles the step up in class,” he said.

One of the more intriguing KJC prospects is Dunph (post 4, Tyler Gaffalione), who has gone unchallenged in his two starts, most notably a 7 3/4-length romp in the restricted Spendthrift Juvenile last month at Churchill.

Four of the KJC starters – Knicks Go, Signalman, King for a Day, and Dunph – are among the 22 separately listed interests in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, for which odds are not locked in until betting closes Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern.

The others in the main body of the KJC are Tracksmith, Manny Wah, Plus Que Parfait, Blue Steel, Limonite, Royal Urn, Roiland, Mick’s Star, and Topper T. The two also-eligibles are Everfast and Kentucky Allstar.

The KJC and its twin sister, the Grade 2 Golden Rod (race 9), anchor the second all-2-year-old Stars of Tomorrow card of the Churchill fall meet (the first was opening day, Oct. 28). First post is 1 p.m. Eastern, with the Golden Rod going at 4:57 and the KJC at 5:56.

Besides the two stakes, the Saturday card also includes five allowances and five maiden-specials. Three of them (races 1, 3, 6) are scheduled for turf, but they might have to be transferred to the main track if the forecast for overnight rain Friday into Saturday holds true.

Blue and red attire will abound Saturday at Churchill, given that many Kentucky and Louisville fans will attend the rivalry football game between the two schools afterward. Kickoff at nearby Cardinal Stadium is at 7, and fans leaving the track are advised to avoid heavy traffic in that vicinity.

Sunday is closing day at the 21-day meet.