1 Maryland Horse© WEEKLY MARCH 4, 2021 2020 Maryland-Bred Horse of the Year KNICKS GO Eclipse Sportswire/Carolyn Simancik 2 2020 Maryland -Bred Champions Announced A 3-year-old march on the classics looked a foregone conclusion, but it would be more than nine months (and six starts) before he would hit the board again in stakes company, and the rest of 2019 was also a disappointment. When Knicks Go reappeared at 4 under the care of new trainer Brad Cox, he dominated an Oaklawn Park allowance by 71⁄2 lengths in February. During Covid shutdowns, he was also shut down, sidelined by a bone chip that was removed. Off for nearly four months, he returned to Keeneland in October and proved a monster, setting a track record of 1:40.79 for 11⁄16 miles and winning the allowance by double digits. Although he had just two allow- ance wins over the past two years, Eclipse Sportswire/Scott Serio Knicks Go was sent off as favorite of 12 in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-G1 last November at Keeneland. And the Knicks Go result was never in doubt. He set every fraction, repelled all challengers and Horse of the Year was geared down as he reached the Champion Older Male wire 31⁄2 lengths in front while setting another track record of 1:33.85. He Gr./ro.h., 2016, by Paynter—Kosmo’s Buddy, by Outflanker joined the select list of Maryland-bred Bred by Angie and Sabrina Moore. Owned by Korea Racing Authority. Breeders’ Cup winners – Safely Kept Trained by Brad Cox. Foaled at GreenMount Farm, Glyndon. (Sprint, 1990), Concern (Classic, $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile-G1 1994), Cigar (Classic, 1995) and Sharing (Juvenile Fillies Turf, 2019). The win was worth $520,000, nicks Go burst onto the national 2017 Keeneland September sale for which propelled him beyond the $1 Kstage last year at 4 and became $87,000, Knicks Go came into 2020 million mark in career earnings. For the one of the biggest stories of the year. as a horse who had lost his way. At 2, year he took home $608,440. Making only three starts, he earned he earned accolades by way of Ken- Bred by Angie Moore and her more than any other state-bred after tucky when winning the Grade 1 Breed- daughter Sabrina Moore and foaled at scoring in the $1 million Breeder’s Cup ers’ Futurity at Keeneland, and using their GreenMount Farm in the Worth- Dirt Mile-G1. And he is now a two-time that momentum to take on Game Win- ington Valley, Knicks Go is a four-time Mary land-bred Horse of the Year. ner in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-G1. Renaissance Award winner, adding the Owned by Korea Racing Authority, Knicks Go led until deep stretch and fin- 2020 trophies to his 2-year-old male who purchased him as a yearling at the ished second. and Horse of the Year crowns of 2018. eterinarians Dr. A. Leonard Pineau Vand his wife Patricia Bradley have Jaxon Traveler been turning out beautifully bred hors- es at their Three Pines Farm in the Champion 2-Year-Old Male Worthington Valley for decades. Sell- ing commercially, they’ve watched a Dk.b./br.c., 2018, by Munnings—Listen Boy, by After Market number go on to sell for six or seven Bred by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau. Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner. Trained by Steve Asmussen. Foaled at Three Pines Farm, Reisterstown. figures. A recent example is undefeat- ed Jaxon Traveler, a Munnings colt out $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity of Listen Boy sold by Three Pines for 3 $80,000 as a yearling at the Keene- land September sale in 2019 and pin- hooked at Ocala the following spring. West Point Thoroughbreds went to $140,000 for the juvenile colt, and in three starts saw the dark bay nearly earn back his purchase price. Trained by Steve Asmussen and rac- ing for West Point and Marvin Delfiner, Jaxon Traveler made three trips from his New York base to Maryland at 2, and left an impression. He romped by 10 lengths in his debut at Pimlico in Sep- tember. In his second start, going 6 fur- longs at Laurel in October, he won by daylight in 1:09 and change. Stakes company was next, and he led at every call, holding off Singlino to Jim McCue win the 7-furlong Maryland Juvenile Fu- turity by nearly a length. Jaxon Travel- Jaxon Traveler is the first Mary- has four winners from as many foals of er’s earnings rose to $120,762. He land-bred champion for his breeders, racing age. She produced a Street Boss was then shipped south with the Asmus- who purchased his dam while carrying filly in May 2019, has no foal for 2020 sen string to Oaklawn to train over the her second foal (by Street Boss) in No- and was bred to Cross Traffic for 2021. winter. vember 2015 for $26,000. The mare hen Street Lute stepped onto the Wracing scene, she didn’t just win, she made her wins count. All five, four in stakes, to be exact. So it was no surprise when Lucky 7 Stables’ daughter of Street Magician took home Maryland-bred honors as champion 2-year-old filly. Breaking her maiden on debut in early September by a length at Dela- ware Park, the Jerry Robb trainee kicked it up a notch in her second start to win the Small Wonder, her stakes debut, by 5 lengths. Returning to her home base of Laurel Park in October for the Maryland Million Lassie, Street Lute suffered her only defeat as she finished second as the favorite to Miss Nondescript, by a neck. Jim McCue Quick to resurrect her win streak, Street Lute hit a stakes triple in the Smart Halo, Maryland Juvenile Filly Champion- Street Lute ship and Gin Talking. Purchased for $10,500 as a year- Champion 2-Year-Old Filly ling by Robb at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Ch.f., 2018, by Street Magician—Alottalute, by Midnight Lute fall yearling sale, the 2-year-old chestnut Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Dr. Brooke Bowman. Owned by Lucky 7 Stables. earned $290,220. Trained by John J. Robb. Foaled at Dance Forth Farm, Chestertown. Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bow- man and Dr. Brooke Bowman, Street Lute $100,000 Gin Talking is the second foal, and only starter, for $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship the Midnight Lute mare Alottalute, who $100,000 Small Wonder has since produced the just-turned 2-year- old Alottahope (by Editorial) and a year- $100,000 Smart Halo ling full-sister to the newly minted Mary- 2nd Maryland Million Lassie land-bred champion. 4 ith the collection of accolades WSharing gathered in 2019 as Maryland-bred Horse of the Year, turf runner and 2-year-old filly, it’s no sur- prise she’d tackle 2020 with the same fiery talent. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable (Ant- ony Beck), Sharing won two of five starts at 3, including the Edgewood-G2 and Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs, and finished second in Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes-G1 and third in the American Oaks-G1 at Santa Anita, which would be her final start. She was voted champion turf runner and cham- pion 3-year-old filly of 2020. The daughter of Speights town kicked off the year with a victory in the Tepin in May before making a trip over- seas to tackle the Coronation less than a month later. Over a course rated Coady Photogrpahy good to soft, she fought hard to finish second. Back in the states, Sharing returned Sharing in September to record her fourth stakes win in the Edgewood before her Champion 3-Year-Old Filly West Coast campaign. Following in the footsteps of her Champion Turf Horse dam, Breeders’ Cup winner Shared Ac- Ch.f., 2017, by Speightstown—Shared Account, by Pleasantly Perfect count also trained by Graham Motion, Bred by Sagamore Farm. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stable Sharing became a millionaire with (Antony Beck). Trained by Graham Motion. Foaled at Sagamore Farm, Glyndon. earnings to $1,092,751 in nine starts. $300,000 Edgewood-G2 It was announced in January that the Sagamore Farm-bred was retired from $100,000 Tepin racing after suffering an injury in a 2nd Coronation-G1 3rd American Oaks-G1 paddock mishap. Field Pass Champion 3-Year-Old Male Gr./ro.c., 2017, by Lemon Drop Kid—Only Me, by Runaway Groom Bred by Mark Grier. Owned by Three Diamonds Farm. Trained by Mike Maker. Foaled at Dance Forth at Roland, Warwick. $200,000 Jeff Ruby-G3 $125,000 Ontario Derby-G3 $100,000 Transylvania-G3 $100,000 Audubon $100,000 Dania Beach 3rd American Turf-G2, Coady Photogrpahy Twilight Derby-G2, War Chant 5 ield Pass’ sophomore campaign won his first graded race, the track’s tario Derby-G3, he drove home a clear Fwas busy, far-flung and productive signature classic prep now named the winner. In 10 starts last year, he won as he led all Maryland-breds by stakes Jeff Ruby Steaks-G3. He stayed in Ken- five and was third in three others. wins (five), earned $450,143, and tucky for his next three starts which in- Field Pass was bred by New Jer- was a three-time graded winner. cluded back-to-back stakes wins in the sey resident Mark Grier, who foaled Racing primarily on turf for Three Audubon at Churchill Downs and the his mares in Maryland after breeding Diamonds Farm, the gray son of Lemon Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland.