Knicks Go Proves Uncatchable in $6 Million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic

Korea Racing Authority’s Knicks Go ($8.40) played catch me if you can in the 38th running of the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) for 3-year-olds and up, and no one could as he posted a 2 ¾-length victory over Medina Spirit to conclude the Breeders’ Cup World Championships races Saturday afternoon at Del Mar.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Joel Rosario, Knicks Go covered the 1 ¼ miles on a fast main track in 1:59.57. The victory is the first in the Classic for Cox and eighth overall while Rosario picked up his 15th World Championships victory and second in the Classic. He won the 2018 running with Accelerate at Churchill Downs.

In becoming the sixth horse to win two different Breeders’ Cup races, Knicks Go set off on an uncontested lead through fractions of :23.16, :45.77 and 1:10.04 with Art Collector in closest pursuit early with Medina Spirit and Hot Rod Charlie tracking in third and fourth.

On the far turn, Art Collector backed out of the picture as Medina Spirit tried to mount a rally to the outside of Knicks Go and Hot Rod Charlie cut the corner on the inside. The threats were short-lived as Knicks Go scampered clear to add the Classic to his victory in the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1) last year at Keeneland.

Essential Quality rallied for third and was followed in order by Hot Rod Charlie, Stilleto Boy, Art Collector, Tripoli and Max Player.