Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders’ Futurity; 1 1/16 miles; Keeneland; Oct. 6, 2018 (10 Derby qualifying points for a win, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Knicks Go, by Paynter Trainer: Ben Colebrook Jockey: Albin Jimenez Owner: KRA Stud Farm Beyer Speed Figure: 81 KNICKS GO had run three previous times, all in sprints, while earning a career-best Beyer of 61. He stretched out, added Lasix, and pummeled his 12 rivals in this race with a front-running victory, but the low winning Beyer Figure and large margin of victory serves as indictment of those who chased him. Right now – comparing it to the American Pharoah and Champagne – this is looking like the weakest of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile preps. We’ll see if Knicks Go continues to progress, and if anyone else can take a step forward in coming months, but as of now this field leaves me cold. In this race, Knicks Go was sent aggressively from the gate and made the lead into the first turn while racing in the two path. He had a clear lead turning into the backstretch, set a solid pace, got a bit of a breather three furlongs out, was asked for his best midway on the turn, kicked away under aggressive handling and was never threatened thereafter. SIGNALMAN, who was second, was sent along from the inside and settled into a forward spot while hugging the rail around the first turn. He followed the winner all the way down the backstretch and around the far turn, got bumped and badly jostled near the quarter pole during a multi-horse chain reaction, but continued to rally along the rail, kept to his task but never got close to the winner. Like Knicks Go, he added Lasix for this race. STANDARD DEVIATION, who was third, tried to tuck in from his outside stall but still had to go about three to four paths wide around the first turn while towards the rear. He remained well back down the backstretch, started to be ridden along with a half-mile to go, continued a steady rally around the far turn while three paths wide, came into the lane about five paths wide, was slightly late to change leads, and continued to make progress through the lane. He looks like a work in progress and figures to be better with racing, as this was only his second start. SOMBEYAY, who finished fourth, was right on the heels of Knicks Go into the first turn while a bit keen, angled to be just outside of Knicks Go into the backstretch, continued in that spot to the far turn, was urged to keep up beginning three furlongs out, was bumped and jostled between Signalman and MR. ANKENY near the quarter pole, went around DERBY DATE in upper stretch, tried to close the gap but flattened out. He might best around one turn. Derby Date, who was fifth, was caught about five paths wide around the first turn while mid-pack, never could drop in down the backstretch, made an aggressive move while four paths wide with three furlongs to go and got up to second, appeared to tighten things up on the three horses to his inside near the quarter pole – as he came into the lane in the three path – then tired in the final furlong. Mr. Ankeny, who was sixth, was just outside of Knicks Go into the first turn, got floated to the three path by Sombeyay around that turn, settled a few lengths off the lead down the backstretch, rallied in the three path on the far turn, appeared to be squeezed out by Derby Date near the quarter pole while tiring, caromed off Sombeyay, then went through the motions thereafter. He might also be best around one turn. FLUMINENSE, who finished seventh, added blinkers for this race but lacked early speed. He saved ground into the first turn while well back and appeared a bit uncomfortable behind the spray of dirt, was last midway through the race, was well back while wide around the far turn and into the lane, was slightly late to change leads, and passed some tired rivals in the lane while never threatening. EVERFAST, who was eighth, veered in at the start to compromise two rivals to his inside, settled near the latter half of the field while inside around the first turn, couldn’t go with Standard Deviation when both commenced rallies with a half-mile to go, saved ground on the far turn, and never got involved. TOBACCO ROAD, who was ninth, raced between horses in the front half of the field while two paths wide around the first turn, was initially alongside Signalman heading down the backstretch, but then couldn’t keep pace with that rival, made a mild move inside to follow Signalman three furlongs out, but had no response thereafter. MOONSTER, who finished 10th, broke half a step slowly but was able to get into a forward position around the first turn, though three paths wide while between horses. He started to lose ground midway through the race, was asked aggressively three furlongs out, and had nothing to offer. BORRACHO, who was 11th, was hung out four paths wide around the first turn while towards the front half of the field, couldn’t go with Derby Date three furlongs out, and was no factor. DREAM MAKER, who finished 12th, was interfered with by Everfast leaving the gate, checked hard, and was last into the first turn while racing greenly. He made a bit of progress while in the middle of the track down the backstretch, raced three paths wide on the far turn while well back, and never looked interested. UNIONIZER, who was last of 13, also was bothered by Everfast in the opening strides, became rank going into the first turn while well back and three paths wide, finally settled down early on the backstretch, but was done by the three-furlong pole and stopped badly.