Horse of the Year Knicks Go Sires First Winner

The 2-year-old filly Ziggity Zag won her career debut June 24 at Horseshoe Indianapolis to give 2021 Horse of the Year and first-crop sire Knicks Go his first winner as a stallion. Flying Dutchman Breeding and Racing's homebred Ziggity Zag, trained by Brian Lynch, broke alertly and tracked the pace from second place through much of the 7 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race on the turf. Ridden by Nik Juarez, the gray or roan filly moved to the outside approaching the stretch and gradually overtook pacesetter Dreaming Collect to win by a neck. The final time on the firm turf was 1:29.66. Ziggity Zag was bred in Kentucky by Boardshorts Stables, a name Flying Dutchman also operates under. She is the first foal out of the winning Creative Cause mare Lounge Act. Knicks Go was a five-time grade 1 winner, including the 2018 Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, the 2020 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) also at Keeneland, and the 2021 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar. The son of Paynter won 10 of 25 starts and retired with earnings of $9,258,135. In addition to being voted U.S. Horse of the Year in 2021, Knicks Go also was voted champion older dirt male and was named the Longines World's Best Racehorse. Knicks Go stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Ky., where his stud fee was $12,500 this year.