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Knicks Go Returns to Work Tab at Churchill Downs

Son of Paynter went three furlongs in :36 3/5 April 9 for trainer Brad Cox.

Knicks Go is back training in the United States after a trip to Saudi Arabia

Knicks Go is back training in the United States after a trip to Saudi Arabia

Coglianese Photos/Lauren King

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go  returned to the work tab April 9 at Churchill Downs, firing off three furlongs in :36 3/5 for trainer Brad Cox in his first move since a fourth in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

"It was a good move, really, really good," Cox said. "He's a fantastic work horse. He did that easy enough. We'll probably move forward to a half mile next week and see how things go. He's moving great, really bounced out of the Saudi race in great order. We gave him plenty of time to recover and feel like we're in a great spot with him."

The 5-year-old son of Paynter ran a four-race win streak after moving to Cox's barn from trainer Ben Colebrook, capped by victories in the Nov. 7 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland and the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

"He was in quarantine for seven days in Chicago and then shipped to Keeneland, so he spent pretty much the whole month of March here at Keeneland," Cox said. "He likes to train, so we started him back jogging, and it kind of gets to the point where he acts like he's tired of that, so we turned him around and started galloping him, and he's an extremely strong horse to gallop. He lets you know when he's ready.

"We've had him over at Churchill for maybe close to two weeks. He's settled in well and has been galloping along nice, and gave us enough confidence to try three-eighths with him today, and he passed it with flying colors, cooled out good, scoped great. We're on track.

"As far as (future) races, no idea right now," Cox added. "I would say mid- to late May at the earliest is probably a realistic goal. It just depends on what we see from him in the mornings. I would say he's going to need probably five or six works to feel confident. Obviously we're going to have to run against good horses, so we have to be ready."