January 24, 2021 
“Greatness,” summed up Brad Cox when asked to reflect on Knicks Go’s sublime performance, a gate-to-wire 2 3/4 length victory over a competitive field in the fifth running of the 1 1/8-mile, race day Lasix-free $2,942,000 Pegasus at Hallandale, Florida’s Gulfstream Park.
“Great horses do great things,” explained Cox, whose new star is now 4-for-4 in the victory column since being added to his barn. “He did something great today. I’m very proud of him.”
The horse that couldn’t seem to win at three is now a horse that can’t seem to lose since joining the Cox barn. The son of Paynter was a G1 winner in 2018 at two for Ben Colebrook in the Breeders’ Futurity Stakes at Keeneland and second in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but 0-for-8 as a winner at three.
His last two starts saddled by Cox were wins in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Saturday’s Pegasus, both G1 contests.
Next up may be a February 20 date at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh and the $20 million 1 1/8-mile Saudi Cup (G1). Knicks Go gained an automatic gate in the world’s richest single contest with his Pegasus win.
Given his remarkable turnaround, 6-5 Pegasus favorite Knicks Go would be a possible favorite in a field expected to include Bob Baffert’s Charlatan, a horse that skipped the Pegasus, presumably to rest before a Saudi Cup run.
A decision about the Saudi Cup has yet to be carefully considered, said Cox. “It’s a 50-50 situation and a lot to ask,” offered Cox. “We’ll let him tell us.”
An alternative could be the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1), a 1 1/4 mile contest March 27. There remain some questions about Knicks Go’s ability to go the 1 1/4 mile distance. Saturday’s victory was the first time the horse was asked to go farther than 1 1/16 miles.
Cox was confident his charge has the pedigree for the classic distance.
“He can go farther,” Cox said. “With Paynter and (Paynter sire) Awesome Again, he has a 1 1/4-mile pedigree. I actually think the 1 1/4 around two turns is better for him than 1 1/8th around one turn. He’s good on the turns.”
Whether it’s Riyadh or Dubai, the five-year-old Maryland bred will continue running confirmed Jun Park, speaking for Knicks Go owner, the Korea Racing Authority.
“We are honored to be here and he will continue to race,” assured Park. “Everybody on the (Cox) team did a great job with him. This was an outstanding performance.”
Jockey Joel Rosario immediately went to the lead in the 12-horse Pegasus field. Knicks Go led easily throughout with the only challenge, a distant one, coming late from Jesus’ Team under Irad Ortiz Jr. The pair would finish 1-2 as they did in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The final margin was 2 3/4 lengths, but Knicks Go was eased as he approached the finish.
Independence Hall, dismissed at 25-1, was third while third betting choice Tax at 5-1 finished a disappointing tenth, suggesting he might need Lasix to run his best race.
“What a training job by Brad Cox,” Rosario said. “Thank you to (the Korea) Racing Authority for the opportunity and to Brad for letting me ride him. He’s very special. You can see, he goes fast, faster and faster.”
For Knicks Go, it was his sixth win in 18 starts and lifted his career earnings to $3,088,995. He was purchased by the KRA for $87,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Knicks Go has yet to gain a stallion contract, a fact puzzling to trainer Cox.
“I can’t believe no one has made a stallion deal for him yet,” Cox said. “He was a Grade 1 winner at 2, a Grade 1 winner at 4 and 5 as an older horse. A Breeders’ Cup and Pegasus winner. A Grade 1 winner around two turns without Lasix.
“What do people want?” queried Cox.
