Knicks Go took the lead out the gates and would not surrender that advantage as Joel Rosario and Brad Cox won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.
America’s biggest race was arguably won at the gates as Knicks Go stole a length at the front, allowing Rosario to be able to control the pace from that point.
With an uncontested lead, he was briefly challenged by Hot Rod Charlie down the inner but Rosario had enough horse underneath him to pull away again at the finish, beating Medina Spirit for Bob Baffert by three lengths.
Essential Quality, also for Brad Cox, finished in third after never really challenging the winner, with Hot Rod Charlie back in fourth.
Speaking after the race, jockey Rosario said: “He’s really fast and he just wanted them to chase him.
“It seemed really easy through the race for him and he was in a great rhythm. He’s amazing and just goes faster and faster.”