The 9-year-old stood at the farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where he was shuttled to Chile on multiple occasions. As of 2023, his oldest foals are 4-year-olds, and his progeny have won 113 races with earnings of more than $13.5 million.

Angel of Empire is his most successful offspring, who won this year's GII Risen Star S. and like his sire, the GI Arkansas Derby. Serving as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, the colt finished third. Classic Empire is also the sire of GISP Interstatedaydream, GSW Morello and GSW Classy Edition.

Bred in Kentucky by Steven and Brandi Nicholson and campaigned by John Oxley, Classic Empire won five of nine starts and earned $2,520,220. Named champion 2-year-old male, the Mark Casse trainee won the GIII Bashford Manor S., the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

At three, Classic Empire finished fourth in the 2017 Derby and was runner-up to Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) in the GI Preakness S. After an abscess was discovered in his right front hoof, he was sidelined for the GI Belmont S. and never raced again.

Classic Empire joins GISW West Will Power (Bernardini) among U.S.-based newcomers to Korea for next season.

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Ten yearlings brought $100,000 or more during the session while 13 hit that mark last year.

Keeneland sold a total of 289 yearlings through the ring Thursday for $9,276,500, good for an average of $32,099 and a median of $25,000. The gross was down 10.24% from last year's $10,335,000 when 308 horses sold. The average decreased 4.34% from $33,555 in 2022, while the median stayed the same.

Cumulatively, a total of 2,392 yearlings have changed hands for $388,649,700, good for an average of $162,479 and a median of $85,000. The gross is 2.82% below the same period last year when 2,488 horses sold for $399,940,000. The average price of $162,479 is slightly above $160,748, while the median of $85,000 is equal to last year.

Calumet Farm acquired five yearlings for a total of $390,000 to be the session's leading buyer. Taylor Made Sales Agency was Thursday's leading consignor with gross sales of $795,000 for 25 horses sold.

“Today has been amazing,” Taylor Made's Mark Taylor said nearing the end of Thursday's session.

“I don't know what the final numbers will bear out. But it's just been amazing–the activity. Horses got shown more than they ever have in Book 5 and they've gotten vetted more than they ever have in Book 5. And generally speaking, if they vet, they are selling very well. To me, it feels like a lot of people, a lot of energy and a lot of activity. A lot of it is driven by the pinhookers, who have been shut out along the way. I expect Book 6 to be better than usual.”

Airdrie Stud freshman sire Complexity led all sires on the day with eight yearlings sold, including a pair of six-figure sellers, for a total of $402,000 ($50,250 average). Taylor Made Stallions's fellow first-crop sire Instagrand checked in third on the day with eight yearlings bringing $369,000 ($46,125 average). Darley's Frosted split the pair with seven yearlings realizing $399,000 ($57,000 average).

Bred in Kentucky by Gabriel Duignan's Springhouse Farm, Thursday's Bolt d'Oro session topper was consigned as Hip 3590 by Paramount Sales, Agent LXXXIII. The daughter of the unraced Tale of the Cat mare Tigress Tale is a half-sister to last summer's Coronation Cup S. heroine Empress Tigress (Classic Empire).

The aforementioned son of Frosted was produced by the Forest Wildcat mare Streaker, a half-sister to Phipps GISWs Pine Island (Arch) and Point of Entry (Dynaformer). Consigned by Brookdale Sales, agent, as Hip 3572, he was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver S. Tait.

The September Sale has two sessions remaining on Friday and Saturday, both beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

Nothing But Net…

DeJuan Smith, a ringman for Keeneland and also a show person for Taylor Made Sales, enjoyed a fantastic return on investment with a colt from the first crop of Instagrand on Thursday.

Purchased for just $15,000 earlier this year as a FTKFEB yearling, the New York-bred brought $105,000 from Don't Stop Me Now Stable at KEESEP.

Out of the winning More Than Ready mare Sistas Ready, the dark bay received a very timely update when his 2-year-old half-brother Vote No (Divisidero) captured the Pepsi Juvenile Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs last week.

He was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, Agent XXVII, as Hip 3552.

“DeJuan started pinhooking last year, had some success and did very well,” Taylor said. “This was his only one that he had this year and just did a great job raising the horse. It was a New York-bred and he got a very timely update right before the sale. It all came together and he did very well.”

Instagrand has also been represented by a $350,000 colt (Hip 1524) and a $125,000 colt (Hip 1174) so far during this Keeneland September sale. He stood for $7,500 this year.

“Instagrand has been great and a lot of people are talking about him,” Taylor said. “He's throwing really nice-looking horses. He's got a lot of momentum right now.”

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TDN: As a racehorse, you just don't see things like what Knicks Go accomplished. Grade I winner at two and later at eight, nine and 10 furlongs, yet strikes as a horse that was perhaps underrated.

Lee Jin-Woo: Knicks Go's race record speaks for itself, as he is an Eclipse Award winner and was Longines #1 Racehorse in the world of 2021. He was a Grade I winner at two at Keeneland and also won Grade Is as a 4- and 5-year-old. He danced all the dances winning both the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and GI Dirt Mile in strong wire-to-wire fashion. Our genetic research tells us speed can be genetically passed onto offspring and we are already getting great reviews from the early foal reports. Everyone says they are very athletic, well-balanced and smart foals so far.

TDN: How was Knicks Go selected as a yearling and why was it decided to race him in the U.S. instead of exporting him to Korea?

L J-W: K-Nicks is the genomic selection system made by the Korea Racing Authority. Genomic selection is a breeding technique that uses genomic data, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), to predict an individual's breeding value for racing ability. Knicks Go was selected by K-Nicks at the 2017 Keeneland September sale. He had the highest breeding value among about 100 samples collected four weeks prior to the sale. His breeding value is 150, which is in the top 3% of the Thoroughbred population.

TDN: What stands out about Knicks Go as a physical specimen? Are there other attributes that make him desirable?

L J-W: As Brad Cox said after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic, Knicks Go is built for American dirt racing. In other words, he has innate precocity, speed and stamina. He's a very well-balanced, athletic horse, correct, with a big walk. Knicks Go is an extremely intelligent horse that loved to train and race. As a middle-distance racehorse rather than a sprinter, he has tremendous turn of foot in his two-turn races. A large, strong heart and athletically superior conformation made this possible. If you watch his races, he was always able to put a few lengths on the competition coming out of the turn and that's purely an athletic trait, being able to corner those turns at a high rate of speed. Also, Knicks Go was a very sound racehorse in his career and raced without Lasix as an older horse

TDN: What does Knicks Go offer from a pedigree standpoint?

L J-W: Knicks Go is an Awesome Again line, and free of A.P. Indy and Storm Cat in his pedigree, so he can be tried with a lot of different bloodlines through A.P. Indy and sons and grandsons as well as anything from the Storm Cat line. Very outstanding sires such as Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer have a moderate height and have well-balanced conformation, delivering excellent heritability.

TDN: Talk about his first book of mares (quantity and quality) that he covered in 2022 and how he adapted to life as a stallion.

L J-W: Knicks Go had a very strong book of 151 mares in his first year at stud. Both his CI and CPI ranked #3 amongst all stallions in his crop. He received very good support from all of the big commercial breeders in Central Kentucky and was very well backed by Taylor Made's large client base of both commercial and breed-to-race customers. It can be a little bit of an adjustment coming straight into the breeding shed off the racetrack with only a few weeks in between. He settled in well after just a few weeks of breeding. He has great libido and fertility and is just as professional in the breeding shed as he was on the racetrack.

TDN: Can you tick off some of the breeders who patronized the stallion in his first year?

L J-W: We had a wonderful response from some top breeders, including Ashview Farm, Ballyrankin Stud, Bloodstock Investments, Joel Politi, Calumet Farm, Castleton Lyons, Clarkland Farm, Classic Bloodstock, Coteau Grove Farms, Crestwood Farm, Denali Stud, Watercress Farm, Machmer Hall, Manganaro Bloodstock, Narvick International, Allen Poindexter, Pollock Farms, Ramspring Farms, Rose Hill Farm, Runnymede Farm, Shawnee Farm, Spruce Lane Farm, St. George Stables, LLC, Stonehaven Steadings, Stoneriggs Farm, Town & Country, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Team Block, Walking L. Thoroughbreds and Woods Edge Farm (Peter O'Callaghan actually purchased Knicks Go as a weanling).

TDN: The list of sires set to be represented by their first foals in 2023 is formidable. How does Knicks Go fit in?

L J-W: We believe Knicks Go was the best racehorse to retire to stud in 2022. Knicks Go was a very precocious racehorse breaking his maiden first-time out in July of his 2-year-old year, won the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland by 5 1/2 lengths and ran a very game second to Game Winner in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He really thrived as an older horse under the training of Brad Cox and the switch to Joel Rosario. The more aggressive training and riding style was a natural fit that led to winning TWO different Breeders' Cup races along with the historic GI Whitney H. at Saratoga in a romp and the GI Pegasus World Cup.

TDN: How do the KRA plan on supporting him at stud? Were they/are they involved in purchasing mares to breed to him? Will they be targeting his progeny at the sales?

L J-W: KRA is promoting the establishment of a joint venture in the U.S., and the venture will purchase Knicks Go's weanlings and yearlings. Mares that are suitable for Knicks Go based on our genetic system have also been purchased.

TDN: Are there any plans in place to stand KG in Korea?

L J-W: The KRA is committed to keeping Knicks Go in the United States and giving his progeny the opportunity to perform as racehorses. He will be given every chance to be a successful stallion in the United States. Just like any other stallion standing in Kentucky, the success of his progeny will be evaluated and that will determine his long-term future.

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“He ran in the Pegasus on Jan. 29, shipped on the 30^th and started test breeding the next day,” Taylor Made's Brooks Taylor shared. “He bred his first mare on the eighth this month and has already bred 10 mares. He's taken to his job really well. He really didn't have any time off.”

Such a quick turnaround might bring about some apprehension for those overseeing a young stallion's career, but Taylor said most horses take it all in stride.

“There is a lot riding on it, but I think they can handle it as long as you treat them right and make it as easy as possible for them. You make sure to give them enough time outside and things like that.”

For now, Knicks Go's first book includes close to 160 mares, but Taylor said that number may increase as the season continues.

He added that the Taylor Made team is thrilled with how their new sire's first book is shaping up and explained how as they were searching for mares for him, their two main focuses were physical and race record.

“Physical is important to us,” he said. “We realize that in that first year, how they sell is really important. We want to breed the best physical that fits him. For me personally, I like Tiznow mares with him and he has about 10 Tiznow mares. We also wanted horses with a race record behind them and horses that could prove they could run. We didn't want a lot of unraced mares. It's really about trying to balance the physical with all these other different factors.”

Taylor, the son of the President of Taylor Made Stallions Ben Taylor, started his career in the industry by working on the farm at Taylor Made and spending summers gaining hands-on experience abroad in France, Argentina, Brazil and Australia. He spent several breeding seasons working with the Taylor Made stallions before moving into the office to work as a stallion sales assistant for eight years. Now 35, Taylor serves as a Thoroughbred advisor, helping clients reach their breeding and racing goals.

He also played a major role in landing Knicks Go onto the Taylor Made stud roster.

Taylor remembers first laying eyes on the colt when the talented gray was just a 2-year-old at Keeneland.

“I've known [Korean Racing Authority racing manager] Jun Park for a long time through selling seasons with him and seeing him at the sales,” he explained. “I had watched the Sanford and thought it was cool that the KRA was winning here in the U.S. I was at Keeneland for the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and remember looking at Knicks Go in the paddock and thinking, 'Man he's a pretty horse.' He ended up winning really impressively and I just remember being so happy for Jun and the KRA to see them have that success.”

Two years later at the Keeneland Fall meet, Knicks Go claimed his second win since the Breeders' Futurity. Discussions about his future stud career grew more frequent as he prepared for the GI Breeders Cup Dirt Mile.

“I had asked Jun what their plans were and he said they wanted to stand him in the U.S.,” Taylor recalled. “I told him when the time comes, we would like to have that conversation. We wanted to see how it played out. Once it looked like he was going back to the Breeders' Cup last year, we made our pitch.”

Taylor Made was of course not the only stud farm hoping to add Knicks Go to their roster.

“They told us what they wanted and we told them what we could do and we met in the middle on everything,” Taylor said. “We just got lucky I guess, but we were always ecstatic about the horse. I also talked a lot with Jun about Not This Time and I told him that the one thing we did right with him is we went after horses with 2-year-old form. I think our discussion about how important race record is and talking about how we did things with Not This Time is really what drew them to us.”

Knicks Go's accolades from the racetrack also include 2021 Longines World's Best Racehorse and along with his Horse of the Year title, he was also named champion older dirt male. The accomplished six-year-old retired with career earnings of over $9.2 million.

“It's pretty cool to have a racehorse of this caliber,” Taylor said. “It doesn't happen often. We're very blessed to have him and we got really lucky. It's one of those things where you're so excited but you don't want to go start shouting about it or anything, you just want to work hard so that they succeed, and then you can celebrate.”

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The Brad Cox-trained 6-year-old, widely expected to be named Horse of the Year next month, will make the final start of his career in the Pegasus World Cup, which he won last year by a dominating 2 ¾ lengths, before starting a second career as a stallion.

“He shipped in here, arrived last night about 11:30. He settled in fine last night. His temp was good. He looked good this morning walking a little bit. His energy level was really good and we decided to train him,” Cox said. “We just jogged him about a mile and a half. He went really, really good. He seemed happy, fresh and full of himself.”

Following his victory in last year's Pegasus, Knicks Go went on to establish himself as the premier older horse in North America, finishing off his 2021 campaign with a four-race winning streak, including victories in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga and the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

“We're trying to do what we did last year with shipping from New Orleans here. We didn't have a plane this year, but that's all good. That's not going to be an excuse. He's capable of getting on a van and taking his show on the road. He did that from Ellis to Saratoga for the Whitney the week of. It's a similar situation,” Cox said. “He certainly seems like he hasn't regressed one step from the Breeders' Cup. We're in good shape.”

In this year's Pegasus World Cup, Knicks Go, whose victories last year were accomplished with dazzling speed from gate to wire, is expected to receive a serious challenge for pacesetting duties from CHC Inc. and WinStar Farms LLC's Life Is Good, the front-running winner of the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar.

Knicks Go will once again be ridden by Joel Rosario, who has been aboard the Maryland-bred son of Paynter in all 10 starts since he was transferred to Cox.

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The dark gray worked what was clocked as a three-eighths of a mile in :36.20 under exercise rider Edvin Vargas early Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Trainer Brad Cox said he timed Knicks Go galloping out a half-mile in :48 1/5.

“Well in hand, and I think he was out the five-eighths in 1:01 and 3,” Cox said. “He definitely hasn't regressed since the Breeders' Cup. He's been training extremely well, galloping great. Wanting to do more. You could definitely tell that the last week, 10 days, he was wanting to do more. He was very strong throughout this morning, around both turns and even up the backside (afterward). The outrider collected him around the half-mile pole, so he seems to be the same Knicks Go that we saw before the Classic.”

Knicks Go is the prohibitive favorite to be voted Horse of the Year and older male champion.

Cox, who is seeking to repeat as the Eclipse Award recipient as North America's outstanding trainer, said Knicks Go will ship in a few days to the trainer's New Orleans division at the Fair Grounds.

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The colorbearer for the Korea Racing Authority cemented his status as the top older dirt male in the country with his gate-to-wire Classic victory. Now, the favorite for Horse of the Year honors is preparing for one last dance to defend his title in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. before he takes up stud duty in 2022.

Meanwhile, the team at Taylor Made is counting the days until they can welcome the famed grey back to their stallion facility.

“We are fired up about Knicks Go,” Duncan Taylor said. “He's the epitome of a racehorse. When you have a horse that wins the GI Breeders' Futurity at two, comes back and wins the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and then the next year wins the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, it doesn't get any better than that.”

Knicks Go was able to get an early taste of his future career during his short stay at Taylor Made as a steady stream of breeders dropped in to visit the new stallion.

“I think his conformation is definitely a plus,” Taylor said. “He reminds me a lot of Blushing Groom and Awesome Again. They're not overly big horses, but they're very well-balanced and have plenty of hip. I think those types of stallions cross well with a lot of different mares. He's very correct and he's one of those horses that have that look in their eye.”

The Taylor family is familiar with their new addition's sireline through their involvement with now-pensioned stallion Tiznow, whose female family is also responsible for Grade I-producing sires Paynter, Oxbow and Awesome Patriot.

Knicks Go takes in the scenery upon his arrival at Churchill Downs on Nov. 17 | Coady

“If you look at this year's Breeders' Cup, you have [Filly and Mare Sprint contestant] Bella Sofia, who is by Awesome Patriot, [Classic contestant] Hot Rod Charlie by Oxbow and Knicks Go by Paynter,” Taylor explained. “So this sireline can get you a runner. We had Tiznow and everybody thought, 'A son of Cee's Tizzy. Why do you want him?' But he turned out to be a great stallion for us.”

Bred in Maryland by Angie Moore and daughter Sabrina Moore, Knicks Go is out of the stakes-winning mare Kosmo's Buddy (Outflanker). A debut winner at two, the colt went on to win the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity and was runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“Sometimes when horses race until they're five, you sort of forget about their 2-year-old career,” Taylor joked. “But the fact that he won a Grade One at two, that says everything. Everybody's looking for that.”

At three, Knicks Go failed to make it to the winner's circle and was transferred to the Brad Cox barn for his 4-year-old season. He ran undefeated in three starts that year by over 20 lengths combined, with his season culminating in a record-breaking performance in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

This year, Knicks Go was five for seven against graded company, accumulating Grade I wins in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Whitney S. and the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he defeated a pair of leading sophomores in GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) and GI Belmont S. winner Essential Quality (Tapit).

Knicks Go earns a 112 Beyer Speed Figure in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic | Horsephotos

“Knicks Go's best quality as a racehorse is speed,” Taylor said. “I remember Mr. [John] Gaines used to say that we're trying to breed the horse that has the most speed, that is the best looking and that can carry the speed the farthest. That's the kind of horse everybody is looking for. Not only can Knicks Go run fast, but he can carry the speed. Setting the track record in the Dirt Mile, that was quite an accomplishment that shows he has the speed. Then to go under two minutes for a mile and a quarter [in the Classic], that takes a special horse. Those two achievements set him apart from other racehorses.”

Taylor said that their team first started speaking with the Korea Racing Authority regarding their superstar's stud career as the colt was training up for the Whitney S. this summer.

“We knew they weren't wanting to sell part of the horse and they knew we do good marketing and work hard,” he explained. “When we started doing our research, we found that he was a perfect fit for us so we went for it.”

Knicks Go will begin his stud career with a $30,000 stud fee. He joins the growing Taylor Made roster alongside MGSW Tacitus, a regally-bred son of Tapit who will stand for $10,000.

“For us, it's hard to go out and buy a horse like this,” Taylor said. “We have to have some breaks in getting our stallions. You haven't ever seen us standing 20 or 25 stallions because we don't have the financial power to do that. But we do have the hustle and we do a good job with our stallions. We're aggressive and we're always trying new things.”

At a farm once home to the likes of heralded Unbridled's Song, as well as Saint Ballado and Forestry, Taylor Made's stallion program has welcomed several promising new additions in recent years.

“When you run a stallion operation, horses help each other,” Taylor noted. “Now we have Not This Time, who has shown that we have a proven stallion on the rise, and then with Instagrand, Instilled Regard, Mshawish and Midnight Storm, we have new blood at Taylor Made. So we have faith and we think Knicks Go is going to be a good one.”

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Rock Hard Ten, whose dam was a half-sister to GI Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Soul (Cougar II), was bred by Madeleine Paulson and carried her colors to a debut victory in February 2004 before Mercedes Stables bought into the colt. Second, but demoted to third in the GI Santa Anita Derby in just his third career start, the dark bay was the distant runner-up to Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality) in the GI Preakness S. and was unplaced in the GI Belmont S. before bouncing back in the GII Swaps Breeders' Cup S. Transferred from trainer Jason Orman to Richard Mandella at the end of his sophomore season, Rock Hard Ten defeated Lava Man (Slew City Slew) in the GI Malibu S. at seven furlongs before adding the 2005 GII Strub S. and GI Santa Anita H. He returned from a seven-month absence to add the GI Goodwood Breeders' Cup H.

Retired to Lane's End Farm, Rock Hard Ten was responsible for 25 black-type winners, 15 at the graded level, including Nereid, winner of the 2011 GI American Oaks. Among his other graded winners are Doubles Partner, Capital Plan and Puerto Rican champion Tonito M., who took the 2014 GIII Oklahoma Derby once repatriated.

Exported to Korea in late 2012, he has been represented by 77 winners and was a top-10 sire by progeny earnings in 2019. He has been by a dozen winners this season. In total, Rock Hard Ten is the sire of 387 worldwide winners to date.

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The 20-year-old son of Kris S. stood at the KRA's Jeju Stud Farm, the operation's primary stallion station.

Through the KRA's Alastair Middleton, the farm issued the following statement to the Paulick Report:

“Rock Hard Ten was observed unable to stand in his paddock. He was moved to the equine hospital where he underwent treatment but he sadly died within 24 hours”

Bred in Kentucky and raced by Madeline Paulson, and later co-owned by Mercedes Stables, Rock Hard Ten debuted in February of his 3-year-old campaign, and finished third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in his third start. He then finished second to Smarty Jones in the 2005 Preakness Stakes and fifth in the Belmont Stakes before notching his first graded win in the G2 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Rock Hard Ten's 3-year-old season ended with a victory in the G1 Malibu Stakes, which kicked off a four-race winning streak to finish his career. During his 4-year-old season, Rock Hard Ten won the G2 Strub Stakes, the G1 Santa Anita Handicap, and the G2 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap. He retired with seven wins in 11 starts for earnings of $1,870,380.

After his racing career, Rock Hard Ten retired to Lane's End for the 2006 breeding season. He resided at the Versailles, Ky., farm until January 2013, when he was exported to Korea.

Rock Hard Ten has sired 13 crops of racing age, with 330 winners and combined progeny earnings in excess of $27 million.

His U.S.-sired runners were led by Grade 1 winner Nereid, Grade 2 winners Capital Plan and Doubles Partner, Grade 3 winners Summersault, Quality Rocks, and Black Onyx. and French Group 3 winner Abtaal.

He is also the sire of Tonito M., who was named Puerto Rico's champion 2-year-old colt in 2013, then was brought to the mainland U.S., where his career was highlighted by a victory in the G3 Oklahoma Derby. Two-time Peruvian champion miler Arezzo was also sired by Rock Hard Ten during his time in the U.S.

Rock Hard Ten currently ranks 22nd on Korea's leading general sire list. He was 13th in 2020, and 10th in 2019, which were his two highest year-end positions to date.

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