November, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cox on Knicks Go: Catch Him If You Can

When Knicks Go (Paynter) arrived in Brad Cox's barn late in 2019 the trainer didn't know what to expect. The Maryland-bred had won the 2019 GI Breeders' Futurity and was second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile in his next start. But his recent form for trainer Ben Colebrook had not been good. He had lost 10 straight and finished in the money only three times during that span. There was even talk of retiring him.

Some two years later, Knicks Go is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and the leading contender for Horse of the Year. It's been a remarkable transition, but not an inexplicable one. Under Cox, Knicks Go has been a horse allowed to use what is clearly his most potent weapon, his early speed.

“I think it has been huge,” Cox said of the change in tactics. “He's an aggressive horse who likes to go.”

He'll be asked to do it again Saturday in the Classic. Knicks Go is all but certain to go straight for the lead and if he wins, it will have meant that nobody could catch him.

After finishing a well-beaten third in the 2019 Arlington Washington Futurity, Knicks Go scored a stunning upset in the Breeders' Futurity at odds of 70-1. He won wire-to-wire that day, but reverted back to old habits in his next several starts. The Knicks Go who struggled throughout his 3-year-old year, going 0-for-8, was a horse that normally could be found stalking the early leaders. In the handful of races where he did go to the lead, he was never able to open up on the field early. After Knicks Go finished 10th in the GIII Commonwealth Turf S., his owners, the Korea Racing Authority, made the switch to Cox.

The trainer sensed early on that Knicks Go needed to be handled a certain way.

“I walked him off the van last night at 10:30 and he was pulling my guts out,” Cox said. “He's just a very aggressive horse. He's forward. He wants to go. He trains like that. He walks around the shedrow like that. He's really cool and laid back in the stall, but when he comes out of the stall, it's all go.”

Knicks Go made his debut for Cox last year in a Feb. 20 allowance race at Oaklawn. With Joe Talamo aboard, he shot to the early lead and drew off to win by 7 1/2 lengths. The horse that had struggled so often a year earlier was nowhere to be found. He's gone six for eight since, including a win in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the GI Whitney S. His two losses came in the only one-turn races he has competed in for Cox. Joel Rosario has been the rider in each of his last eight starts.

“The biggest thing when it came to getting this horse right and getting his form back was just getting him into some races where he could get his confidence,” Cox said. “We needed to find out what he wanted to do. He's a horse who wants to be on the lead. I really think Rosario fits him well. When the rider holds him together and lets him tote them around there, he's able to run them off their feet. That's what he does.”

Cox has left no doubt what the strategy will be Saturday, but that doesn't mean that Knicks Go will have an easy time of things. The race is loaded with speed and, like Knicks Go, Medina Spirit (Protonico) is a horse who has been thriving on the lead. Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) and Art Collector (Bernardini) also have speed. Could there be a pace meltdown?

“I'm not worried about that,” Cox said. “I see Knicks Go breaking and probably having to be asked to establish position down the frontside. Then, hopefully, he can clear off going into the first turn. We'll see. I don't know what the game plan is for the other jocks and trainers. I'm not sure he can clear off, but hopefully he can. That would give him his best opportunity to win. They're going to be going quick. It just depends on how quick they are going and how much pressure he is getting when he goes quick.”

Riding Medina Spirit, John Velazquez will have some choices to make. If he goes after Knicks Go from the start that could prove to be a problem for both. If he allows Knicks Go to get away from him then Knicks Go probably won't get caught.

A rapid early pace could benefit Cox's other Classic starter, Essential Quality (Tapit). He is the second choice in the morning line and another Horse of the Year candidate. Max Player (Honor Code) is another who could benefit from a pace battle.

Then again, Knicks Go may just be too good and too fast for his rivals.

“That's just the way he runs,” Cox said. “That normally leads to the best result for him and for us. That's what we are going to do. We're going to send him away from there running and see how it works out.”

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Canadian Hall Of Fame Jockey Hugo Dittfach, 85, Passes

Canadian Hall of Fame jockey Hugo Dittfach has died at age 85. A winner of over 4,000 races, “Hustlin' Hugo” Dittfach is remembered for his incredible work ethic and perseverance. Dittfach arrived in Canada following World War II, a refugee from East Germany that spent three-years in a Russian concentration camp in Poland.

While working at a restaurant in Calgary, Dittfach received a suggestion from a patron that he pursue horse racing due to his size. Launching his career in 1956, Dittfach was a leading rider in Western Canada before relocating to Ontario.

Dittfach would reach the pinnacle of Canadian racing in 1961, riding 20-1 longshot Blue Light to victory in the Queen's Plate, edging the world's leading race-winning jockey Johnny Longden and race-favorite Just Don't Shove in one of the closest finishes in race history.

Dittfach remained a fixture and leading rider at Woodbine, Greenwood and Fort Erie for many years, winning numerous stakes, including the Prince of Wales a record five-times. He retired from riding in 1989 to become a trainer.

“So many individuals in our racing industry, including myself, are lucky to have cherished memories of Hugo,” said Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “Hugo was a hard-working, earnest man, that gave his all every time he got on the back of a horse. Hugo rode regularly for Jim Dandy Stable and I fondly remember his ride on Ruthie's Run to win the Princess Elizabeth Stakes in 1974.

“A true gentleman, Hugo made an incredible contribution to our sport in Ontario and will be missed by all.”

“Hustlin' Hugo” won the Sovereign Award as Canada's Outstanding Jockey in 1975, was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1983 and received the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1991 for his contributions to the sport.

Woodbine Entertainment extends sincere condolences to the family and friends of Hugo Dittfach.

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Breeders’ Cup Classic Notes: Knicks Go, Essential Quality Test Del Mar Surface

Art Collector – Bruce Lunsford's Bill Mott-trained homebred 4-year-old colt Art Collector had an easy day two mornings after a Halloween half-mile work in 48 2/5 in preparation for Saturday's $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

“I jogged Art Collector,” Mott said. “When we are home, we always give him a jog day after he works, but today we walked him through the paddock and jogged him again and everything went fine.”

Since joining the Mott barn over the summer, the son of 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Bernardini and 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf fourth-place finisher Distorted Legacy is perfect from three starts, including the Alydar Stakes (Listed) at Saratoga, Charles Town Classic (G2) at its namesake course and Woodward (G1) at Belmont.

“He's just improved on his own and we haven't done anything, really, except let him lead one winning effort into another and build himself from race to race,” Mott said. “He's got three races in him now and is just doing really good. He looks stronger and has continued to develop, which is what you hope a 4-year-old is going to do. That's what you want him do and it is what it looks like he's been doing that throughout the course of the year.”

Essential Quality/Knicks Go – Trainer Brad Cox's powerhouse duo of Essential Quality and Knicks Go, both returning Breeders' Cup winners, arrived at Del Mar around 10:30 p.m. Monday from Kentucky and wasted no time getting to work Tuesday. Essential Quality, the 2020 Juvenile winner and 2-year-old champion, jogged, while Knicks Go, the 2020 Dirt Mile winner, galloped once around the track. Both were ridden by regular exercise rider Edvin Vargas.

“Essential Quality was really, really good, he looked amazing training out there,” Cox said. “He was looking around, but that was to be expected. He just jogged. Knicks Go has good energy so he'll probably do a little more. So far, so good. They all shipped in well. It was a long day yesterday, but they all look good.”

Express Train – Express Train, winner of the San Diego Handicap over the Del Mar main track this past summer, continued his preparations for a berth in the Classic Tuesday morning with a strong 1 1/2-mile gallop under regular exercise rider Amy Vasco.

Trainer John Shirreffs, who famously won the 2009 Classic renewal with Zenyatta, reported, “Right now, he's training at a level above his most recent races. Although he's yet to win at the (Classic's 10-furlong) distance, I'm confident he can get it.” Shirreffs added, “In the recent Pacific Classic (for which he was the post time favorite), he just didn't get his trip.”

Hot Rod Charlie – Roadrunner Racing, Bill Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable's popular 3-year-old colt Hot Rod Charlie continued his Breeders' Cup Classic preparation when leaving Del Mar's Barn Y at 7:45 a.m. and galloping an easy circuit of the dirt track. The 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up and half-brother to 2019 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Mitole drew post three of nine in the $6 million race and will be ridden by Flavien Prat, who has been aboard for five of his 11 races. Trained by Doug O'Neill, he will seek to be the conditioner's sixth World Championships winner.

“I think there's such a long run to the first turn, so any nine of the posts is probably not a big deal, but it's good that Flavien knows him so well and 'Charlie' has good gate speed,” O'Neill said. “He will try to put himself in a good position. It's nine solid horses and nine solid jockeys, so it's really all a matter of positioning and I feel good that we can find ourselves a good spot.”

O'Neill seeks his first Classic victory after five losses: Lava Man (2006), Richard's Kid (2012), Handsome Mike (2012) and Pavel (2017, 2018).

Max Player – George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp's Max Player walked the shedrow Tuesday morning, one day after completing his final work in advance of the Classic, and assistant trainer Scott Blasi reported that the horse came out of the half-mile work well.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who is seeking his third Classic victory, was scheduled to arrive later Tuesday.

Medina Spirit – Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, conditioned by four-time Classic winner Bob Baffert, was on the track this morning shortly after the renovation break for his daily gallop. The sophomore colt is the co-third choice in the morning line for Saturday's Classic.

Stilleto Boy – Steve Moger's Stilleto Boy worked an easy 4f in 52 1/5 under jockey Kent Desormeaux over a fast track Tuesday morning at Del Mar.

Stilleto Boy galloped once around before setting about his work.

“The first time around at the seven-eighths pole he was looking at all the photographers but the second time, he was all business,” Desormeaux said. “It was either going to be 51 or 48 (seconds) and when I got to the quarter pole, I toned him down a bit. I liked what I felt this morning.”

Trainer Ed Moger Jr. was happy with the work.

“He didn't need to go quick,” Moger said of Stilleto Boy, who had worked a best-of-15 5f at Santa Anita last Wednesday before shipping to Del Mar.

Runner-up to Medina Spirit in the Awesome Again in his most recent start, Stilleto Boy is 30-1 on the morning line for the Classic and will break from post seven.

Triopoli – Pacific Classic winner Tripoli galloped Tuesday morning with assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard. Trainer John Sadler is expected to drive down from his Santa Anita Park base Thursday.

“We know he likes this track and he likes the distance,” Leyva said. “He's settled in again here and is doing well. If the race falls apart, he could get a piece of it.”

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‘Rags To Riches’ A Case Of You Primed For Turf Sprint

Del Mar, CA–The celebration from trainer Ado McGuinness, his family and stable team reverberated far and wide across ParisLongchamp-and, quite possibly, beyond–on Oct. 3 when Gary Devlin's A Case Of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) hit the line a short-head winner of the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. And rightfully: after 21 years training racehorses, McGuinness had won his first Group 1.

“To win your first Group 1 and to win it on one of the biggest days in Europe was very special for everybody involved,” McGuinness said. “[Jockey] Ronan [Whelan] has been riding for me for a long time and to get a Group 1 like that, it was just so special. We can get very vocal sometimes and that's just the way we are no matter what type of winner we have. It was a very special day and something you'll remember for the rest of your life. Words can't really describe what it was like that day. I know what it's like now and hopefully I can experience it again.”

McGuinness could get that chance again on Saturday when he saddles A Case Of You in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Having arrived in Del Mar on Monday evening, McGuinness was trackside on Tuesday morning to supervise his stable star as the 3-year-old went through an easy canter over the dirt course.

“The horse traveled over very well,” McGuinness said. “He had two days in quarantine and he was very fresh [on Monday] morning and he had a go with his rider, but he had a nice canter this morning and he was more laid back. We're really happy that we have a really good draw and hopefully he'll run a nice race for us.”

That draw is six of 12, which McGuinness said gives Whelan options with A Case Of You.

“I think the six is good for him because he might not have the tactical speed really early, so they can jump and go forward and he can just sit right in behind them,” he explained. “I think it's an ideal draw for him that will leave us with two options, so we're very happy. We're a little concerned because it's a round track and it's tight, but he's handled Dundalk, our all-weather surface at home, and it's round so hopefully he'll put up a bold show.”

A Case Of You has been on an upward trend since joining McGuinness last winter, and he is the type of horse that keeps the smaller operator dreaming. Bought for 950gns as a foal by trainer John McConnell, A Case Of You failed to find a new home at the Goffs Sportsmans yearling sale of 2019, and was led out unsold at €3,000. When McConnell sent A Case Of You to the races in his own colours, it became immediately apparent that the horse had been far undervalued. Third first out at Bellewstown last August going a mile over heavy ground, A Case Of You promptly graduated next out when dropped down to seven furlongs at Down Royal before posting a minor upset when coming home the 6-1 winner of The Curragh's G3 Anglesey S. A Case Of You was then due to be sold to Hong Kong, but when that deal fell through, McGuinness swooped.

“We were looking for a horse at the end of the year and this horse was to be sold to Hong Kong, but the deal fell through so we went looking for him,” the trainer recalled. “We brokered the deal for him just before Christmas. It was a long time trying to get him and it was probably the most money I've ever paid for a horse, yet he wasn't expensive; compared to what he has done today, he was a very cheap horse. I think it's onwards and upwards. the horse is just thriving and he's a rags to riches type of horse. He's very talented and it's a privilege to have him.”

A Case Of You's first outing for McGuinness was a win in a Dundalk conditions race going six furlongs, and he trailed home last of 12 when hanging badly in the seven-furlong Listed 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown three weeks later. Dropping back to six, A Case Of You and Whelan took the G3 Lacken S. at Naas, but beat just four home in the G1 Commonwealth Cup, having lost a shoe in running over the heavy ground. After he finished third in the G3 Phoenix Sprint S. again over six furlongs on Aug. 8, McGuinness dropped A Case Of You back to five furlongs for the first time, a move which has transformed the horse. After coming from well out of it to finish second in the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh on Sept. 12, A Case Of You made a similar move at ParisLongchamp, sprinting away from the eventual third-placed Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) to cut down the lead of Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) and hit the line a short head in front. A Case Of You re-opposes the defending Turf Sprint winner Glass Slippers, who he has had behind him his last two outings, at Del Mar.

“The Irish handicapper was sort of knocking him a bit on his two runs, but his first two ever runs over five furlongs were a second in a Group 1 and a win in a Group 1, so you can't get much better than that,” McGuinness said. “If Ronan had ridden him at The Curragh again he might have won the first Group 1 as well, because we were giving him a bit of time. We're learning about him every day, he's still a 3-year-old. It was a hell of a performance and a hell of a ride from Ronan on both days, and I think the second day was a fantastic ride because a lot of people would have given up when the French horse had gone so far clear, but Ronan knew the horse and knew what he could get out of him. It was a world-class ride.”

Today, McGuinness has just shy of 50 horses in his care, and he said the purchase of A Case Of You was part of a plan to focus on upgrading the quality of his stock.

“I'm training 21 years, and the last four or five years we've really upped the ante with regards to trying to buy a better horse,” he explained. “We've won a lot of big sprint handicaps in Ireland and we had our first group race winner last year and we've won two Group 3s since. My cousin Stephen Thorne works for me, he's a Darley Flying Start graduate, and we do a lot of work at the sales and sourcing nice horses in training. We've been lucky with a few yearlings as well that we've bought and we're trying to get more into the yearling market to try to get better owners in. It's not easy in Ireland because it's probably one of the most competitive places in the world to try and train young horses.

“We've definitely upped the ante on our stable the last few years. At the Galway Racing Festival we've won three of the big flat races in the last three years, and it gives us great advertising to try to get more owners into the yard. It's all about getting a better horse into the yard, and we've proved we can train them if we get good horses, so that's what it's all about.”

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