Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Knicks Go

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go pulled off a 70-1 heist in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) on Saturday with a front-running score for conditioner Ben Colebrook. The gray surely didn't run like a longshot at Keeneland when dominating his foes en route to a 5 1/2-length romp beneath Albin Jimenez.

The two-year-old punched his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in taking the "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge event.

Knicks Go was bred in Maryland by Angie Moore. He is from the second crop of the courageous Grade-1 winner Paynter. A fine debut winner at 5 1/2 furlongs, the gray Paynter was so highly regarded that he was thrown into the 2012 Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his second lifetime race. He finished fourth in an excellent field.

Paynter earned his best achievement when eclipsing the Haskell Invitational (G1), which followed a game runner-up performance in the Belmont S. (G1). Knicks Go is the first Grade 1 winner to date by his sire.

Paynter is by perennial top sire Awesome Again, who concluded his career with a thrilling coup in the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Awesome Again has sired a trio of champions, topped by sensational 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper.

Awesome Again is also responsible for 2013 Preakness (G1) winner Oxbow, as well as 2018 Triple Crown veteran Bravazo, who finished second in this season's Preakness.

Knicks Go is the first stakes winner produced from Kosmo's Buddy, who banked in excess of $298,000 while picking up a pair of stakes wins. The Outflanker mare was a versatile sort with success on both the turf and dirt, though the lion's share of her accomplishments came on the green.

She is also responsible for an unnamed yearling colt by Orb, as well as an unnamed weanling colt by Broken Vow.

The immediate and extended family of Knicks Go is steeped in Midlantic roots. His first dam was a Maryland Million heroine. The second dam, Vaulted, was three-time stakes placed in Maryland, while Aube D'or, his third dam, won or placed in stakes at Laurel and Pimlico.

Knicks Go was sold at public auction on a pair of occasions. In 2016, Knicks Go brought a $40,000 final bid as a weanling at Keeneland November. He was then offered back at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, bringing the gavel down at $87,000 to his current owners.

The pedigree of Knicks Go is a questionable one in terms of thriving at classic distances. While Awesome Again is a stamina-inducing sire, the jury is still out on the young Paynter. And his broodmare sire, Outflanker, is by Danzig but has yet to make a mark with his producing daughters.

(Coady Photography)