Last weekend, all the horse lovers followed with intensity the events at the American racetrack Del Mar. For two days it turned into the smooth racing capital of the world, gathering the best of the best – the strongest cracks, talented jockeys, famous horse-owners. The highlight of the rally was the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1), which seemed to put an end to the debate about who would be the U.S. Horse of the Year.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the epitome of American horse racing like no other prize: a 2,000-meter course on a sandy track, a hard, “hard” ride and $6 million in prize money at stake. Both participants and spectators begin to prepare for it in advance. Discussion about the contenders for the victory begins long before the results of the draw are announced. This year the final starting list consisted of nine names.

There were several favorites in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Knicks Go of Brad Cox’s stable had the highest pre-start quotes. This season has been extremely successful for the five-year-old stallion. He started it in January by winning the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, then finished fourth in the Saudi Cup and came away with a convincing win in the Whitney Stakes. Nix Gow’s main rival was considered his co-conspirator, Essential Quality, competing in the Godolphin colors. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner won five group prizes this year, including the Belmont Stakes. Nix Gow and Issenshial Kuoliti topped the leaderboard by a wide margin, and a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic could guarantee one of them the Horse of the Year title. Another contender to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic was derby rider Medina Spirit. The predictions came true to the fullest extent.

Brad Cox himself was betting on Issenshial Kuoliti. However, the result of the race was somewhat disappointing to him. The gray stallion under Luis Saez had a bad start and was caught between Nix Gou and Hot Road Charlie and had to catch up because of it. Medina Spirit, on the other hand, who took the start from the eighth box, was able to take the lead right away. And it was Nix Gow who led the group. And, having raced from place to place, he took a confident victory. Medina Spirit, representing the Bob Baffert stable, came in second in the last meters of the course. Issenshial Kuoliti finished third and Hot Rod Charlie was fourth. The rest of the competitors lost by more than 10 lengths.

“I don’t know how to describe my emotions. Issenshial Kuoliti was in perfect form today, much better than the Belmont Stakes. Before the start of the race, I was sure he would win. But Nix Gow was just out of reach today. I still can’t figure out what I feel brighter – the joy of winning Nix Gou or the bitterness of losing to Issenshial Kuoliti,” commented Brad Cox on the victory.
Nix Gow was certainly a special horse for Brad Cox. He won his trainer’s first Pegasus, was the first winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and now appears to be the first to win the Horse of the Year title. And in January 2022 he will try to win the Pegasus World Cup for the second time.