Knicks Go very sharp in 2020 debut

Paynter’s Grade 1 winner Knicks Go kicked off his 4-year-old campaign in very impressive style, with a 7 1/2-length win in a 1 1/16-mile allowance contest at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 22 (VIDEO).

Making his first start for new trainer Brad Cox, Knicks Go had been away from the races for just over three months. He went right to the front after the break and controlled things from there, shaking clear of the field in upper stretch to win with complete authority. The final time of 1:42.57 earned him a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100.

Winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), Knicks Go has earned $793,355 for his owners the Korea Racing Authority.

The winner was bred by Angie Moore and is out of the multiple stakes winner Kosmo’s Buddy. 

Paynter has been a top-10 stallion with each of his first three crops and is currently in the top 10 on the General Sire list this year as well, with five stakes horses and over $1.1 million in progeny earnings to date.