It was a cold and eventful January evening when Pegasus World Cup Invitational Champion (G1) Knicks Go, rated first in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, came into this world.
Co-breeder Sabrina Moore now recounts that evening as the Maryland-bred prepares for his final start before the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in Saturday's Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Spending time with Maryland Jockey Club co-host Naomi Tukker at her Maryland farm, Moore also talks about her relationship with Knicks Go's dam, Kosmo's Buddy, and the challenging realities of running a commercial enterprise.
Moore was present at Keeneland when the enigmatic grey recorded his first Grade 1 success in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). She elaborates on the pride, the emotion, the ride he has taken the Moore family on.
After Knicks Go's Whitney Stakes (G1) victory in August, Sabrina was reunited with her old charge for the first time since he left their care. “Going from little fluffy baby to super racehorse” was her way of summing up the horse she knew.
The story of Knicks Go continues, with two of his siblings living under the watchful eyes of the Moore's at Greenmount farm in Maryland.
Historic Pimlico Race Course launches its July schedule Friday with an Independence Day holiday weekend of live racing featuring four stakes worth $375,000 in purses and a Maryland state record carryover jackpot of $1,351,928.63 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6.
The Rainbow 6 went unsolved for the 25th consecutive racing day following the last live action June 27. The popular multi-race wager was last hit for a $23,346.70 payout May 7.
A mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 is scheduled for Sunday's Independence Day card that includes the $100,000 Concern for 3-year-olds and $100,000 Lite the Fuse for 3-year-olds and up, both sprinting six furlongs; $100,000 Caesar's Wish for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 1/16 miles and $75,000 Jameela for Maryland-bred/sired females 3 and older scheduled for five furlongs on the grass.
The Lite the Fuse and Caesar's Wish are both part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series.
In the Rainbow 6, the jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Introduced in Maryland April 2, 2015 on opening day of Pimlico's spring meet, the Rainbow 6 has far surpassed its previous state record carryover of $345,898.33 spanning 31 racing programs before being solved by one lucky bettor for a life-changing $399,545.94 payout April 15, 2018 at Laurel Park. The winning ticket was purchased through Maine off-track betting.
Friday's Rainbow 6 begins in Race 3, a five-furlong claiming sprint for 2-year-old filly maidens that attracted a field of nine led by second-time starter R B's Star from the barn of meet-leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez. R B's Star was second, beaten a half-length, in a June 21 maiden special weight at Delaware Park in debut.
Maryland Jockey Club host and analyst Naomi Tukker's price play comes in Race 4, one of two horses in the Rainbow 6 sequence scheduled for the grass, a one-mile claimer for 3-year-olds and up. Cark will break from Post 6 against 11 rivals after running fourth by 2 ½ lengths behind next-out winner Mr. Tito's in a June 5 claimer at Gulfstream Park for trainer Sarah Nagle.
“He did not get a trip at all,” Tukker said. “Multiple times he had to get to checked because of traffic issues, but in the latter stages he still showed a rally that makes me think if he uses that turn of foot he might just get the win.”
Claimers 3 and up will travel 1 1/16 miles in Race 5 with Miami Mumbles favored at 9-5 on the morning line. Trained by Horacio DePaz, the 5-year-old Hard Spun mare closed to be fifth but was elevated to fourth following the disqualification of Wicked Prankster for interference May 13 at Pimlico. The winner of that race, Johng, came back to win June 18.
Race 6 is a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint for 3-year-olds and up which have never won three races, or 3-year-olds. Cooke Brothers breaks from Post 3 having run second in four of his last five races including three in a row, beaten a total of five lengths in those starts. The most recent came in the slop May 29 at Pimlico under jockey Grant Whitacre, who rides back for trainer Mario Serey Jr.
Tukker's must-use horse comes in Sunday's featured Race 7, a second-level optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up at six furlongs. Rather Nosy will be making her first start for trainer Jane Cibelli after being campaigned on the West Coast, exiting back-to-back wins going seven furlongs at Santa Anita March 12 and May 8.
“The Cibelli stable is very strong when sending horses out for the first time after a trainer change,” Tukker said. “[Last time] she won on the lead, on the rail, with a fair few runners pressuring her early, but that didn't seem to deter her at all. She was very relaxed and still showed a great kick in the latter stages.”
The sequence closes with the Race 8 finale, a one-mile claimer for 3-year-olds scheduled for one mile on the turf. An overflow field of 15 was entered including Leave 'Em Loaded, third May 28 at Pimlico in his second start off a layoff, and Jestful, shortening up after being beaten a neck when second in an off-the-turf maiden claimer at Pimlico June 12.
Look no further than Sunday's nine-race program at historic Pimlico Race Course for a chance to surprise Dad with the ultimate Father's Day gift – a million-dollar payday.
The Maryland state record carryover jackpot in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 will once again be up for grabs, growing to $1,205,592.51 after the popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the 21st consecutive racing day Saturday.
Last solved for a $23,346.70 payout May 7, the Rainbow 6 began with a $1,140,043.97 carryover from Friday and saw another $204,882 added to the pool. Multiple tickets with all six winners each returned $6,554.84.
The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Introduced in Maryland April 2, 2015 on opening day of Pimlico's spring meet, the Rainbow 6 has far surpassed its previous state record carryover of $345,898.33 spanning 31 racing programs before being solved by one lucky bettor for a life-changing $399,545.94 payout April 15, 2018 at Laurel Park. The winning ticket was purchased through Maine off-track betting.
Sunday's Rainbow 6 spans Races 4-9, kicked off by a five-furlong turf sprint for maiden fillies age 3, 4, and 5 that attracted an overflow field of 14. The 5-2 program favorite is Venezuelan Talent, third on the also-eligible list, unraced since last fall at Gulfstream Park West. Miranda's Desmond (7-2) came from 14 lengths back going the same distance in debut May 14 to run second by a half-length for trainer Brittany Russell.
Race 5 is a six-furlong claimer for 3-year-olds and up where Rock and Fellers is narrowly favored to win his fifth career race and first since September 2018 over Tom Terrific, racing second time off the claim for trainer Anthony Aguirre, and Russell's Talented Dr. B, second in two starts this year.
Fillies and mares age 3, 4, and 5 will hit the turf course in a 1 1/16-mile maiden claimer in Race 6 led by Perfume River, the 5-2 program favorite over fellow second-time starter Downcomesthenite, also from the Russell barn, and trainer Kelly Rubley's debut runner Sherylaway.
Wicked Hot, a 12-length maiden winner May 28 at Pimlico, looks to make it two in a row for trainer Graham Motion in Race 7, a six-furlong allowance for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 years old and up. Marvella Nasty and Hell in a Shell also exit wins, while Quiet Imagination was stakes-placed in back-to-back races last fall, including to Hello Beautiful in the Maryland Million Distaff at Laurel Park.
An open allowance for fillies and mares 3 years old and up sprinting six furlongs serves as Sunday's feature in Race 8. The group of six is led by Day Dayenu, a 4-year-old Into Mischief filly in her season debut for Rubley after making her previous five starts at Woodbine for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. Meet-leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez counters with Mischiefs Model, a one-length allowance winner May 31 at Pimlico.
Race 9, a five-furlong turf dash for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, concludes the sequence. Three horses – The Boss of You, Fast Lani, and Merry Maid – are racing for the first time this year, while Not My Money, in the money in 15 of 26 starts including six seconds and eight thirds, is favored at 2-1 on the morning line.
There will also be a $1 Super Hi-5 carryover of $1,188.63.
Unsolved during an action-packed Sunday featuring five stakes worth $475,000 in purses, the Maryland state record carryover jackpot in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 stands at $1,093,866.44 when live racing returns to historic Pimlico Race Course Friday.
Post time for the first of eight races is 12:40 p.m.
A total of $270,155.04 was put into the popular multi-race wager on top of a $1.07 million carryover Sunday, when multiple tickets with all six winners each returned $671.74. Included in the sequence were wins by Valued Notion in the $75,000 Ben's Cat, Pixelate in the $100,000 Prince George's County, undefeated Chub Wagon in the $100,000 Shine Again and Street Lute in the $100,000 Stormy Blues.
Grade 3 winner Blame Debbie, racing for the first time in 200 days, opened Sunday's stakes action with a victory in the $100,000 Searching.
The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Introduced in Maryland April 2, 2015 on opening day of Pimlico's spring meet, the Rainbow 6 had its previous state record carryover reach $345,898.33 spanning 31 racing programs before being solved by one lucky bettor for a life-changing $399,545.94 payout April 15, 2018 at Laurel Park. The winning ticket was purchased through Maine off-track betting.
Friday's Rainbow 6 begins in Race 3 (1:37 p.m.), a starter-optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass which attracted an overflow field of 15 including 2019 Maryland Million Turf winner Mr. d'Angelo and King Causeway, Maryland Jockey Club host and analyst Naomi Tukker's “must-use” horse in the sequence.
King Causeway will be making his just second start since last November for trainer Justin Nixon, having rallied to be third in his comeback in a similar spot May 23 at Pimlico. It was only the second time racing away from Woodbine for a 5-year-old gelding that has been third or better in 10 of 17 career starts.
“This horse is an out-and-out closer and they didn't go fast up front, meaning anyone would struggle to make up ground, and still he ended up making six lengths,” Tukker said. “I feel like if the flow sets up in his favor, he could be much impressive in the latter stages of the race and quite the danger at 6-1.”
No Guts No Glory Farm's Blue Sky Painter, owned and trained by Jerry Robb, is favored at 7-5 in Race 4 (2:09 p.m.), a 1 1/16-mile claimer for 3-year-olds and up which have never won three races, or 3-year-olds. The 4-year-old Paynter gelding won first off the claim Feb. 4 at Laurel Park and has been narrowly beaten in three of four subsequent starts, including one each by a nose and a neck.
Tukker's price play comes in Race 5 (2:40 p.m.), a waiver maiden claimer for fillies and mares age 3, 4 and 5, also scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the turf where Kinda Lucky, racing first time for trainer Brittany Russell after four starts last year for Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox, is the 2-1 program favorite.
Richard Golden's 3-year-old Maryland homebred filly Fire in the Hole is one of two horses among 16 entered trained by Graham Motion, listed at 6-1 on the morning line. She debuted running third behind Replicant and next-out winner Sebastian, beaten 1 ¼ lengths, May 8 in an off-the-turf maiden claimer.
“What I very much liked about her is, she's not prominent early but she has this really big, large, reaching stride which makes me think she can easily skip over the turf,” Tukker said. “Plus, she seems to stay for days.”
Claimers 3 and up which have never won three races will sprint six furlongs in Race 6 (3:12 p.m.). Robb and stable rider Xavier Perez once again have the program favorite in Maryland-bred Zip the Lip, off the board in three races since breaking his maiden beating older horses in a six-furlong claimer April 22 at Pimlico.
Back to the grass for a scheduled 1 1/16-mile claiming event for 3-year-olds and up in Race 7 (3:45 p.m.), trainer Hugh McMahon entered the pair of Laddie Liam, making his turf debut in just his fourth start since winning the 2019 Maryland Juvenile Futurity, and Rohrbacher, a five-time winner unraced since February 2020. Breaking side by side from Posts 4 and 5, they are respectively listed at 4-1 and 7-2 odds.
Completing the sequence in Race 8 (4:17 p.m.) is a 5 ½-furlong claiming sprint for maidens age 3, 4 and 5. The 4-5 program favorite from Post 6 in a field of nine is Lugamo Racing Stable's Golden G, making his second start for leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez after running second as the favorite going six furlongs May 30 at Pimlico over a sloppy track. Gonzalez and jockey Angel Cruz have connected at 29 percent from nearly 200 starters over the past two years.
Notes: Three horses scratched when the Ben's Cat was moved from the grass to the main track return in Saturday's Race 7, a five-furlong allowance for Maryland-bred/sired horses scheduled for the turf – Joseph, Matta and Railmaster. Also among the overflow field of nine are Grateful Bred, racing first time since finishing fourth behind Fiya in the Maryland Million Turf Sprint last October, and Little Bold Bandit, the 3-year-old younger full brother to 11-time stakes winner Anna's Bandit who graduated in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight May 15 at Charles Town …
The next scheduled stakes during Pimlico's Preakness Meet, extended through Aug. 22 with ongoing renovations on Laurel Park's main track, come Sunday, July 4 with the $100,000 Concern for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs, $100,000 Lite the Fuse at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds and up and $100,000 Caesar's Wish going one mile for females 3 and older – both part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series – and $75,000 Jameela for Maryland-bred/sired fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting five furlongs on the grass. Nominations close Friday, June 25.
