Knicks Go Gallops In Lukas Classic, Sets New Stakes Record In Usual Front-Running Style

Knicks Go had things all his own way once again in the Grade 3 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Oct. 2, paving the way for a trip to this year's Breeders' Cup Classic. Jockey Joel Rosario got the speedy gray out in front early and never looked back, setting a relaxed early pace and easily throwing off closing bids from Sprawl and Independence Hall to be geared down at the wire. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:47.85, a new stakes record and just missing the track record set in 1999 by Victory Gallop.

Independence Hall was second, followed by Shared Sense. Fractional times were :23.53, :47.27, and 1:10.90.

Brad Cox trains Knicks Go for the Korea Racing Authority, saddling him here in his third consecutive victory. Since switching from Ben Colebrook's barn in early 2020, Knicks Go has embraced an aggressive, pace-setting running style that has served him well. Earlier this year, he won the G3 Cornhusker, the G1 Whitney, and the G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Cox also saddled Knicks Go for a win in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Knicks Go was bred in Maryland by Angie Moore and is by Paynter out of Outflanker mare Kosmo's Buddy. He was a $40,000 weanling at the Keeneland November Sale in 2016, where he was consigned by Bill Reightler and purchased by Northface Bloodstock. He sold at the Keeneland September Sale the following year for $87,000 from Woods Edge Farm to Korea Racing Authority.

Knicks Go was heavily favored at 1-9 and paid $2.20, $2.10, and $2.10. See the full chart here.

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Into Mischief Filly Makes It Look Easy In Chandelier Stakes; Juvenile Fillies Next Stop

With favored Grace Adler in deep water around the far turn, trainer Phil D'Amato's Ain't Easy was running comfortably on the lead and was never threatened en route to a 4 ¾-length score in the Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.  Ridden by Joel Rosario, Ain't Easy got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:45.20.

A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, Ain't Easy will get a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Breaking sharply from post position two, Ain't Easy was a bit keen around the Club House turn as she tucked in a close third behind pacesetter Electric Ride, who she overtook by a half length at the three-furlong marker.  Leading by about four lengths at the three sixteenths pole, Ain't Easy won geared down in a most impressive effort.

A first out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs with Rosario Aug. 21 at Del Mar, Ain't Easy, a daughter of Into Mischief, was off 7-2 and paid $9.00, $4.00 and $3.20.

Owned by Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Michael Lombardi and Joey Platts, Ain't Easy, who is out of the Australian-bred mare Ameristralia, picked up $120,000 for the win and now has earnings of $162,000.

“She acted very professional, sitting behind horses,” said D'Amato. “'When Joel (Rosario) wanted to, she came up the inside, which I like to see with a young horse. She just looked like she was having fun in the stretch. I think it set up perfect. A good two-turn experience, confidence booster, an easy win, where it didn't look like she was taxed too much, so I like everything I saw right now.

Ain't Easy was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm and sold for $400,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Electric Ride, off at 6-1 with Joe Bravo, finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Desert Dawn and paid $7.00 and $4.80.

Off at 31-1 with Ricky Gonzalez, Desert Dawn paid $7.60 to show.

Grace Adler, off at 4-5, finished a well beaten fifth.

Fractions on the race were 23.56, 47.99, 1:12.16 and 1:37.98.

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Warrant’s Rail-Skimming Trip A Winning One In Oklahoma Derby At Remington Park

With two wins and four in-the-money finishes in his first six starts, Warrant came into the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby looking to improve on his last-out second-place finish in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby. Under a rail-skimming ride from Joel Rosario, the son of Consitution got his first graded stakes victory in the G3 stakes at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

In a field that included Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Silver State and dual-G3 winner Mr. Wireless, Warrant took up position on the rail in fourth behind Flash of Mischief and Parrot Head around the first turn and down the backstretch. As the field approached the far turn, Rosario used the open lane on the rail to pull even with Flash of Mischief, briefly taking the lead on the turn. Flash of Mischief battled back to retake front-runner status as they hit the top of the stretch.

Into the Remington Park straightaway, Warrant rallied past Flash of Mischief as Silver State made his bid on the outside. The son of Constitution had too much momentum for his challengers, pulling away to a 1 1/2 length victory over Flash of Mischief and Silver State, with Team Merchants fourth. Mr. Wireless, Defeater, Dial in for Lute, and Parrot Head rounded out the order of finish. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.76.

Warrant paid $8.40, $4.00, and $2.60. Flash of Mischief paid $13.00 and $5.60. Silver State paid $2.80 to show. Find this race's chart here.

Bred in Kentucky by owner Twin Creeks Farm, Warrant is a 3-year-old colt out of the First Samurai mare Whisper Number. Trained by Brad Cox, Warrant has three wins in seven starts in 2021, for career earnings of $634,700.

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Constitution’s Warrant Rides Rail to OK Derby Score

Warrant earned the first graded victory of his career with a gritty performance in the GIII Oklahoma Derby Sunday night at Remington Park. Settling in fifth behind a contested :23.68 quarter, the chestnut crept closer down the backstretch and Joel Rosario decided to step on the gas as frontrunner Flash of Mischief drifted off the rail nearing the far turn. Taking over from that rival into the lane, Warrant faced a resurgent foe before asserting himself once and for all outside the sixteenth pole and edging clear.

“It was a perfect trip,” said Rosario. “The more I rode him, the more he gave me.”

A second-out graduate going six furlongs Feb. 16 at Fair Grounds, he came up a nose short when second in a Keeneland allowance/optional claimer Apr. 3 and filled the same slot in the Oaklawn S. May 1. Overcoming a wide trip to annex the Texas Derby May 31 at Lone Star, he was runner-up in the GIII West Virginia Derby last out Aug. 7 at Mountaineer.

“We were a little worried he might be a distracted with this being his first time running under the lights, but I think being on the inside kind of helped him,” said winning owner/breeder Steve Davison. “We had a great jockey and a great experience.”

Pedigree Notes:

Warrant, the 15th graded winner for his sire Constitution, is the second graded winner out of Whisper Number, who is also the dam of GII Barbara Fritchie S. winner Ms Locust Point (Dialed In). The 13-year-old mare is a half-sister to graded placed Speightful Affair (Speightstown), who is the dam of multiple stakes winner Mr. Buff (Friend or Foe).

Trainer Brad Cox will have a half-brother to Warrant in the barn next year after the BSW/Crow Colts Group purchased a Good Magic yearling out of Whisper Number for $325,000 at last week's Keeneland September sale.

Sunday, Remington Park

OKLAHOMA DERBY-GIII, $400,000, Remington, 9-26, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.76, ft.
1–WARRANT, 124, c, 3, by Constitution
                1st Dam: Whisper Number, by First Samurai
                2nd Dam: Santerra, by Tejabo
                3rd Dam: Sioux City, by Carson City
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC;
B-Twin Creeks Farm (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Joel Rosario.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-3-1, $634,700. *1/2 to Ms
Locust Point (Dialed In), GSW, $675,975. Werk Nick Rating:
   A++. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Flash of Mischief, 124, c, 3, Into Mischief–Flashy Campaign,
by Political Force. O/B-Jerry Namy (KY); T-Karl Broberg.
$80,000.
3–Super Stock, 124, c, 3, Dialed In–Super Girlie, by Closing
Argument. ($70,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Erv Woolsey & Keith
Asmussen; B-Pedro & P.J. Gonzalez (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen. $44,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 6 1/4. Odds: 3.20, 20.90, 2.00.
Also Ran: Team Merchants, Mr. Wireless, Defeater, Dial in for Lute, Parrot Head. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

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