Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go will headline this Friday's Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Ia. The somewhat unusual spot for a two-time Grade 1 winner could be seen as a confidence-booster after a pair of lackluster efforts, as Knicks Go faded to fourth in both the Saudi Cup and in his stateside return earlier this month in the G1 Met Mile.
Despite his off-form record, Knicks Go has been made the even-money morning-line favorite in a field of seven expected for the 1 1/8-mile Cornhusker. Trained by Brad Cox, the 5-year-old son of Paynter will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
The second choice on the morning line at 4-1 is Last Judgement, the last-out winner of the G3 Pimlico Special for trainer Mike Maker. He won that race with a strong front-running effort, and could challenge Knicks Go for the early lead.
Should those two engage in a tiring speed duel, Bill Mott trainee Modernist may be perfectly poised to pick up the pieces. He won the G3 Excelsior at Aqueduct in April, then finished second to Last Judgement in the Pimlico Special in his most recent start.
Other classy older horses in with a chance include Rated R Superstar and Tenfold, trained by Federico Villafranco and Steve Asmussen, respectively.
The full field is as follows:
- Drifting West – Joe Offolter – Walter De La Cruz
- Dinar – Heath Lawrence – Alonso Quinonez
- Tenfold – Asmussen – Ricardo Santana, Jr.
- Last Judgement – Maker – Jose Ortiz
- Knicks Go – Cox – Rosario
- Rated R Superstar – Villafranco – David Cabrera
- Modernist – Mott – Junior Alvarado
The post Knicks Go Returns In Prairie Meadows’ Cornhusker Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
