Knicks Go

By: Alan Porter

A thrilling front-runner, Knicks Go has won six graded stakes events, including the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at two, as well as the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), Whitney Stakes (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The most exciting young sire from the Deputy Minister line, Knicks Go is out of multiple stakes winning sprinter. 

Knicks Go is by Paynter, brilliant winner of the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), and a son of champion and classic winner Awesome Again, from a sister to Horse of the Year Tiznow. Knicks Go’s broodmare sire, Outflanker, is from the immediate family of A.P. Indy, and Paynter has sired grade two winner Lazy Daisy out of a mare by A.P. Indy son Sauve and a stakes winner out of a mare by A.P. Indy son, Mingun, indicating that A.P. Indy should be very interesting here. There are other Awesome Again line stakes winners from this line out of mares by Tapit (sire of Constitution, Tapizar, Concord Point and Trappe Shot), a son of Pulpit (also sire of Sky Mesa and Stroll); Malibu Moon, Aptitude and Anasheed. This also suggests mares by such as Bernardini (sire of Stay Thirsty and To Honor and Serve, Flatter (sire of Flat Out), Congrats, Mineshaft (sire of Dialed In and Discreetly Mine), Jump Start, Stephen Got Even (sire of First Dude) and Majestic Warrior.

Out of Mr. Prospector line mares Paynter has a stakes winners out of mares by City Zip (sire of Run Away and Hide), a son of Carson City also sire of Lord Carson, Flying Chevron, Five Star Day, Cuvee and Pollard’s Vision; Bandini, by Fusaichi Pegasus, also sire of Roman Ruler; and English Channel, by Smart Strike, also sire of Curlin (sire of Exaggerator and Palace Malice), Lookin At Lucky and Dominus. There is also Paynter stakes winner out of a mare by Trippi, by End Sweep, a son of Forty Niner. The cross Awesome Again and sons with Forty Niner line mares has been a very successful, with two grade one winners out of mares by Distorted Humor (sire of Sharp Humor, Jimmy Creed and Maclean’s Music), and graded winners out of mares by Coronado’s Quest, Twining and Roar. From other branches of Mr. Prospector, there is a grade one winner on an Awesome Again cross over Gone West, as well as a graded winner out of a mare by Elusive Quality (whose son, Quality Road is also broodmare sire of an Awesome Again line stakes winner), and there are also stakes winners out of mares by Mr. Greeley, Grand Slam and Zamindar. Mares by Proud Citizen and Speightstown and his son, Munnings, might also work. We can also note classic winner Sir Winston out of a mare by Afleet Alex (by Northern Afleet) and a graded stakes winner by a son of Awesome Again out of a mare by Street Cry, sire of Street Sense and Street Boss.

From the Fappiano branch of Mr. Prospector, Paynter has a stakes winner out of a mare by Quiet American. There is also an Awesome Again grade one winner out of a mare by Grindstone (sire of Birdstone), who is by Unbridled (himself broodmare sire of a graded winner by a son of Awesome Again). There are also stakes winners out of mares by Unbridled sons, Broken Vow and Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile, grandsire of American Pharoah, Cairo Prince and Bodemeister). 

Paynter also has a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Dynaformer (sire of Temple City, Point of Entry and Purim). This is a cross over Roberto line mares, and has worked very well for Awesome Again line sires, including grade one winners out of mares by Arch (sire of Blame) and Rock Hard Ten, and a graded stakes winner out of a mare by You and I, all by Kris S.;  and a graded winner out of a mare by Red Ransom. 

Paynter has a stakes winner out of a mare by Holy Bull, and there are six stakes winners on an Awesome Again line cross over Holy Bull, including grade one winner Judy The Beauty. Holy Bull is sire of Macho Uno (a half-brother to Macho Uno, and interesting hers), Flashy Bull, Woke Up Dreamin and Giacomo. Paynter also has a stakes winner out of a mare by Leroidesanimaux (sir of Animal Kingdom), and there is a stakes winner by Paynter out of a mare by Tiznow, and a graded stakes winner out of a mare by Tiznow son, Tiz Wonderful, which suggests Colonel John, Gemologist, Morning Line, Strong Mandate and Tourist.