Knicks Go is a gray horse who was bred by Angie Moore and her daughter Sabrina at GreenMount Farm in Reisterstown, Maryland.

He is from the second crop of Paynter, who won the Haskell Invitational, then received widespread social media attention during his battle against a near-fatal case of colitis and laminitis.

Knicks Go was produced by Kosmo's Buddy, a stakes-winning daughter of Outflanker who was claimed by the Moores for $40,000 near the end of a 37-race career.

"[4] Knicks Go made his first start on July 4, 2018, in a maiden special weight at Ellis Park over a distance of five furlongs.

[6] It was the first Grade I win for his trainer Ben Colebrook, who felt that the other jockeys had allowed Knicks Go to steal the race.

"[7] The win earned Knicks Go an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, held at Churchill Downs on November 2.

He hopped at the start but quickly moved up to track the pace set by Complexity while racing three-wide around the first turn.

He was originally campaigned on the 2019 Road to the Kentucky Derby with limited success, finishing fifth in the Sam F. Davis, seventh in the Gotham and fourth in the Lexington Stakes.

[2] Knicks Go was transferred to the barn of Brad Cox at the end of 2019 and made his first start as a four-year-old on February 22, 2020 in an allowance race at Oaklawn Park.

Going off as the second choice at odds of 3-1, he went to the early lead and was never challenged, pulling away in the stretch to win by 7+1⁄2 lengths.

On the strength of his previous win, he went off as the 9-5 favorite in a field of 12 that included multiple stakes winners such as Complexity, Art Collector, Sharp Samurai and War of Will.

"[13] Knicks Go began his five-year-old campaign in the Pegasus World Cup on January 23, 2021 at Gulfstream Park.

The field of 14 also included Charlatan (Malibu Stakes), Mishriff (Prix du Jockey Club) and Chuwa Wizard (Japan's Dirt Horse of the Year in 2020).

He was the odds-on favorite in an elite field of six that included multiple stakes winners Mischevious Alex, Silver State, Dr Post and By My Standards, all coming off wins in their previous starts.

[23] In the Whitney Stakes on August 7, Knicks Go faced another small but "star-studded" field that also included Maxfield, Silver State, Swiss Skydiver and By My Standards.

[24] As expected, Knicks Go went to the early lead and set solid fractions of 23.42 seconds for the first quarter and 46.76 for the half.

"[23] The win gave Knicks Go an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, to be held at Del Mar in November.

Despite never having run at the distance of ten furlongs, Cox felt that Knicks Go deserved a chance at the race rather than trying to defend his title in the Dirt Mile.

"I think with the Classic being at Del Mar, it gives you a little more confidence about trying the mile and a quarter as opposed to say Churchill Downs where there's a little longer stretch", said Cox.

Independence Hall tried to press the pace but could not respond when Knicks Go kicked away in the final furlong, eventually winning by four lengths.

[26] Knicks Go was the morning line favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar Racetrack on November 5.

The field of eight also featured the three leading three-year-olds in the country, Essential Quality, Medina Spirit and Hot Rod Charlie.

By post time, the odds on Knicks Go had drifted out to 3-1, reflecting bettors' concerns over a possible speed duel with Medina Spirit, and doubts about his stamina given he had never raced at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles.

He was briefly challenged by Hot Rod Charlie after swinging wide near the head of the stretch, but then drew off to win by 2+3⁄4 lengths.

Life is Good opened up a comfortable lead down the backstretch and Knicks Go was unable to mount a serious challenge, finishing second by 3+1⁄4 lengths.