Whitney Hopefuls Knicks Go, By My Standards Both Preparing Away From Saratoga

Joel Rosario sits motionless as Knicks Go wins the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap by 10 1/4 lengths

Two of the top contenders for the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes on Aug. 7 at Saratoga have been preparing out of town, reports the Daily Racing Form. Knicks Go has been training at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., while By My Standards is currently based at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va.

The Whitney is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic this fall at Del Mar.

Knicks Go, the 5-year-old son of Paynter, worked six furlongs at Ellis Sunday in 1:12 flat, according to Equibase. The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner disappointed in both the Saudi Cup and the Met Mile, but rebounded with a big effort in the Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows last out to win by 10 1/4 lengths. Trainer Brad Cox, who is himself based at Saratoga, said he’s kept Knicks Go in Kentucky due to the staffing situation.

“He’s really tough and the gallop boy that’s done a good job with him over the last year or so is there for the summer so it made more sense to keep him there as opposed to bringing him up here,” Cox told DRF.

With Churchill Downs shut down for the summer to renovate the turf course, trainer Bret Calhoun shipped part of his stable to Colonial Downs, including By My Standards. Winner of the Oaklawn Mile and second, beaten a length, to Silver State in the G1 Met Mile last out, the 5-year-old son of Goldencents has put in back-to-back six-furlong works in 1:11 flat at Colonial over the past two weekends. Calhoun told DRF he will work the horse once more at Colonial before shipping to Saratoga.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.