Gulfstream: Knicks Go Heads Gulfstream Alumni in 2021 Breeders’ Cup

By David Joseph —-

Knicks Go Heads Gulfstream Alumni in 2021 Breeders’ Cup

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Korea Racing Authority’s Knicks Go, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23, will head a strong contingent of Gulfstream alumni at the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Del Mar Nov. 5-6.

Knicks Go, a dominating 2 ¾-length winner of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus, was prominent on the list of pre-entries for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) announced Wednesday. The Brad Cox trainee prepped for his Pegasus World Cup romp with a victory in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

Following his victory at Gulfstream, the 5-year-old son of Paynter finished fourth in both the Dubai World Cup (G1) and Metropolitan Mile but enters the 1 ¼-mile Classic for 3-year-olds and up on a three-race winning streak that includes a 4 ½-length triumph in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga.

St. George Stable LLC’s Letruska, Bo Hirsch LLC’s Ce Ce and Spendthrift Farm LLC and My Racehorse Stable’s Got Stormy are also prominent Breeders’ Cup pre-entries that won graded stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The Fausto Gutierrez-trained Letruska, who won the Rampart (G3) during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, has been pre-entered for the $2 million Distaff (G1), a 1 1/8-mile stakes for fillies and mares 3-years old and up.

The 5-year-old daughter of Super Saver followed up her victory at Gulfstream to win six of seven starts, including the Spinster (G1), Personal Ensign (G1), Ogden Phipps (G1) and Apple Blossom (G1), to establish herself as a division leader. Letruska, who was 6-for-6 in Mexico, made her U.S. debut at Gulfstream on Dec. 6, 2019 in the Copa Invitational del Caribe, a 1 ¼-mile race in which she beat males handily.

Michael McCarthy-trained Ce Ce is pre-entered for the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), a seven-furlong race for fillies and mares 3-years old and up for which she won a fees-paid berth with her victory in the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2) at Gulfstream July 3. The 5-year-old daughter of Elusive Quality captured the ‘Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In’ race by 3 ¼ lengths while running seven furlongs in 1:21.94.

Juan Arriagada-trained Estilo Talentoso, who finished second behind Ce Ce while favored in the Princess Rooney, is also pre-entered for the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Mark Casse-trained Got Stormy, who is pre-entered for the $2 million Mile (G1), won the Feb. 27 Rampart (G3) at Gulfstream, kicking off a 2021 campaign that included her second straight victory in the Fourstardave (G1) against males. The daughter of Get Stormy finished second in the 2019 Mile, a mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up on turf.

LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC’s Casa Creed, a five-year-old son of Jimmy Creed who finished second in the Tropical Turf (G3) at Gulfstream to launch his 2021 campaign, is also pre-entered for the Mile, a first preference for the Bill Mott trainee. The $1 million Turf Sprint (G1) is a second preference for the winner of Jaipur (G1) at Belmont Park.

Mr. Amore Stable’s Firenze Fire, who finished a close second in the Mr. Prospector (G3) during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, is pre-entered for the $2 million Sprint (G1). The Kelly Breen-trained 6-year-old Florida-bred son of Poseidon’s Warrior went on to finish first or second in five of six starts, including a victory in the True North (G2) at Belmont. Calumet’s Lexitonian, who finished fourth in a Gulfstream allowance before going on to win the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga, is also pre-entered for the Sprint.

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables LLC’s Mind Control, who finished third in the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3), is pre-entered for the $1 million Dirt Mile (G1) for 3-year-olds and up. The 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty went on to win the John A Nerud (G2) at Belmont and the Parx Dirt Mile after joining the stable of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who captured his 17th Championship Meet title this year.

George Kirkorian’s War Like Goddess, who kicked off a four-race winning streak with a victory in the Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream, is pre-entered for the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/8 miles. The Bill Mott-trained 4-year-old daughter of English Channel most recently captured the Flower Bowl (G1) at Saratoga.

Calumet’s Gear Jockey and DARRS Inc’s Extravagant Kid, who campaigned at Gulfstream during the 2020-2021 Championship Meet, are pre-entered for the $1 million Turf Sprint (G1).

Rusty Arnold-trained Gear Jockey broke mis maiden and finished third in the Canadian Turf (G3) before going to win Kentucky Downs’ $1 million Turf Sprint (G3).

Brendan Walsh-trained Extravagant Kid, a multiple-stakes winner at Gulfstream, finished second in back-to-back turf sprint stakes at Gulfstream before capturing the $1 million Al Quoz (G1) on the Dubai World Cup program.

Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal, who won the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) after debuting at Gulfstream earlier in the year, is also pre-entered for the Turf Sprint., a five-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds and up.

Diamond 100 Racing Club LLC, Amy Dunne and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Diamond Wow, who kicked off her career with maiden score on turf and a stakes victory on dirt at Gulfstream is pre-entered for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). The daughter of Lookin At Lucky finished second in the Jessamine (G2) at Keeneland, losing by a neck after breaking from the far-outside No. 13 post. California Angel, who defeated Diamond Wow with a late surge, is also pre-entered in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Rustlewood Farm Inc.’s Pappacap, an impressive 2 ¾-length debut winner in a five-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream May 14, is pre-entered for the $2 million Juvenile (G1), a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds. The Mark Casse-trained son of Gun Runner went to win the six-furlong Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar in his next start and most recently finished second in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita.

Casse-trained Credibility, who won his debut in a mile turf race at Gulfstream Aug. 21, is pre-entered for the $1 Million Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Harry Rosenblum’s son of Nyquist most recently finished third in the Bourbon (G2) at Keeneland.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $200,000

Thursday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $200,000 at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday for the eighth racing day following a $461,035.47 jackpot payoff Oct. 9.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Thursday’s Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 3-8, anchored by an optional claiming allowance and a starter allowance on Tapeta in Races 7 and 8.

Antonio Sano-trained Barone Cesco, beaten by just a neck while finishing a late-rallying third in the Hollywood Beach on turf last time out, headlines a field of seven 2-year-olds in a 5 ½-furlong dash carded as Race 7. The son of Klimt debuted with a front-running victory on turf at Saratoga before finishing off the board in an off-the-turf Skidmore Stakes. Michael Yates-trained Full Disclosure and Gilberto Zerpa-trained Trikitraki will come off impressive debut victories. Gerald Brooks-trained Concrete Glory will come off back-to-back victories in a maiden claimer over Presque Isle Downs’ Tapeta course and an allowance win over the main track at Thistledown.

A deep field of turf-stakes veterans will contest a mile-and-70-yard starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up in Race 8. Max K.O., who lost the Mr. Steele Stakes by a nose and notched a dominating victory in a starter allowance at Kentucky Derby since joining Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn through a claim, will clash with Grade 1-placed Kroy, and stakes winners Durocher and Louder Than Bombs, in the Thursday nightcap.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP AND 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE, and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com.