Knicks Go

KNICKS GO (c, Paynter—Kosmo's Buddy, by Outflanker)
O-KRA Stud Farm. B-Angie Moore (MD). T-Ben Colebrook. Sales History: $40,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $87,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GISW, 6-2-1-1, $672,515.
Last Start: 11th GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., CD, Nov. 24
Accomplishments Include: 1st, GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, KEE, Oct. 6; 2nd, GI Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile, CD, Nov. 2; 3rd, Listed Arlington Washington Futurity, AP, Sept. 8
Next Start: GIII Sam F. Davis S., TAM, Feb. 9
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 18.

There's no doubt that Knicks Go has proven credentials. The main question he has to answer in his 2019 debut this Saturday is whether or not he was a 2-year-old overachiever who peaked in two huge races (a 70-1 wire job in the GI Breeders' Futurity S. and a 40-1 second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile). Prior to breezing a half mile in :48 on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs (4/64), his :58.40 five-eighths bullet (1/39) on Jan. 26 was the final serious work for the GIII Sam F. Davis S., and last week trainer Ben Colebrook admitted that move was “probably was a little faster than we planned.” But, he added, “Knicks Go did it really easy. He finished up with good energy and galloped out strong. We had given him some time off after his last start and he had put on some weight since, so he needed a serious work. He was savaging his feed tub later on.” This $87,000 KEESEP Paynter yearling looms as the likely chalk in the Davis–a stakes in which faves have gone down in defeat in five of the last seven runnings.

VIDEO PPS