Pegasus World Cup Will be Bittersweet for Cox
At 0h06, on December 15, 2021 • By NEWSROOM
Having built one of the largest stables in America, trainer Brad Cox doesn’t have much time to reflect on his escalating accomplishments. But he acknowledges thinking a lot about Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Knicks Go’s final career start coming in Gulfstream Park’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 29.
In his first start since taking the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Knicks Go won the 2021 Pegasus to kick off a season that saw him go 5-for-7. The only defeats came in one-turn races: New York’s Metropolitan Mile (G1) and the Saudi Cup.
“It’s kind of weird, knowing this is going to be his last run,” Cox said. “We’re enjoying still having him in the barn. Hopefully we’re going to have prepared to the best of our ability when we lead him over there Pegasus Day. It’s going to be very exciting. It’s going to be bittersweet, but excited to give him one more run. Obviously, we hope he goes out a winner and we’ll definitely be sorry to see him go.”
Until the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, the 2021 Pegasus was the most lucrative stakes that Cox had ever won. Knicks Go won’t be his first champion, but he almost assuredly will be the trainer’s first Horse of the Year.
Cox said that in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus he just wants “to see more of the same from him that we’ve seen the last two years.”
Knicks Go had his second workout since the Breeders’ Cup on Sunday at the Fair Grounds, working a half-mile in 49 4/5 seconds.
“It’s icing on the cake for sure,” Cox said of the Pegasus, “because he’s delivered in a big way over the last few years – actually his whole career, what he accomplished at 2 as well. It will be neat to get one more run in him at the age of 6. He certainly doesn’t look like a horse needing any time off or anything. He was let down a little bit for around five days at Taylor Made just for inspection for breeders to come over and look at him. But he was ready to get back and go to work, and hopefully it is icing the cake with the Pegasus.”
The “Go” part of the horse’s name has proven fortuitous. Knicks Go indeed is a horse who stays on the engine.
