Sabrina Moore at Greenmount in Maryland. (photo courtesy of Sabrina Moore)
A Day with Sabrina Moore: Knicks Go’s legacy and life after horse bills
By Mackenzie Pfeiffer
Year after year, Maryland-breds make their presence felt at Saratoga.
But on Whitney Day, a Maryland-bred freshman sire stole the show. Knicks Go, bred by Sabrina Moore and Angie Moore, was back in the headlines – this time as a stallion. His first-crop foal, Ewing, stormed home in The Saratoga Special Stakes (G2), becoming Knicks Go’s very first graded stakes winner.
Among the cheering crowd was Sabrina Moore, who launched the perpetual underdog to a Breeders’ Cup Classic victory and an Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year. Though she’s since closed her boutique breeding and consignment operation, and relocated to Kentucky, Moore still finds herself wrapped up in the emotions of Knicks Go’s growing legacy.
We caught up to talk about Ewing’s win, life changes, and maybe, just maybe, how Maryland might lure her back.
Mackenzie Pfeiffer: I did not expect to be so emotional watching Ewing win! How was it for you, watching a two-year-old by Knicks Go rack up his sire’s first graded stakes win?
Sabrina Moore: Ugh, man, it was crazy. We thought he’d do well, but you never know. I had people in my ear saying, “Oh, I’ve got one in my barn and it’s nice, it’s fast,” but let’s be real. No one ever says your kid is ugly. Still, Knicks Go’s book wasn’t exactly stacked, so I was nervous.
The poor horse has had to prove himself over and over and over again. Every time, he blows people away. Now, as a stallion, he has to do it all over again. Honestly, being a good stallion is probably harder than being a good racehorse.
Ewing’s win was validating. I kind of thought the Knicks Go days were over, so when one of his babies came through like that? I wasn’t expecting to be so emotional, but I was really proud. It made me happy for him. Everyone questions Knicks Go’s pedigree and whether he can stand up as a sire, but having one of the first graded stakes winners of the two-year-old season? Yeah. That was special.
MP: And special that you got to be there! He’s the only freshman sire with a graded stakes winner, right?
SM: Ha! At the moment, yes. He’s still sitting second overall, though. It’s easy to be off to a good start, so I’m hoping he keeps the momentum going. It should be an exciting fall. Ewing has a huge opportunity in front of him, too.
MP: Fingers crossed. Do you stay in touch with Ewing’s connections?
SM: Not really. I probably could ask, but I felt far enough removed as a breeder in general, so as the breeder of a sire, it’s even more removed. I just sit back and watch the entries! I’m on The BloodHorse every day tracking Knicks Go’s babies. At first, I was nervous. He was something like 0-for-6 before his first winner. Like all good things, you just have to wait.
MP: Right! He has 101 named foals and 11 winners in 35 runners now. And plenty of Maiden Special Weight winners. Any of his runners you’re especially excited about?
SM: Yes – he’s right there! There are two that I am excited to see. I bred both personally. If I could get one of those to win, that would be nice. But I’ll happily cheer for Ewing and everyone else in the meantime.
MP: How are the two that you bred?
SM: Mystic Love was in foal to Knicks Go. Emotions on emotions! I was thrilled, then had to shut down my farm and make a few life transitions. I couldn’t keep her and selling her was honestly one of the top three saddest days of my life. I was just bawling my eyes out.
Here’s the twist: Noel Murphy, consigning next to me, adored an older filly out of Mystic. When she went through the ring for basically just the stud fee, I had a pit in my stomach. Then I saw Noel signing the ticket. He bought her for his ten-year-old son as part of a bloodstock venture where profits go into a college fund. That foal should be a two-year-old next year. Huge sigh of relief knowing she’s loved.
The other mare, Perdona, I also bred to Knicks Go. They sold that foal as a two-year-old. Haven’t seen him pop up in the entries yet, but I’m watching!
MP: With Knicks Go’s recent buzz, what are you hearing about this upcoming breeding season?
SM: It’s still pretty early, but with him on the bubble, hopefully they won’t struggle with his book. If you aren’t a freshman sire or proven sire, it can be tough. I think he’s done enough now to keep people interested. Taylor Made has done a great job marketing him. If he keeps getting runners, and people see the value in that, he shouldn’t have trouble attracting mares.
MP: Is there a particular type of mare you think really suits him?
SM: Gosh, I haven’t dug into it too deeply yet, partly because we just don’t have quite enough runners to study. Ewing is out of an Indian Charlie mare, and I’ve noticed another winner from that cross, so that looks promising. Right now, it’s about variety, just giving him opportunities. Remember, Knicks Go himself was something like a “D” nick, so you can’t always trust the paper. Getting them to the races will tell a lot.
MP: With the recent excitement, have you been tempted to dive back into breeding?
SM: Ha! I don’t miss the bills! I’ve told my boss that maybe in a few years I’d join a breeding partnership. It’s about finding the right time and courage. For now, I’m enjoying stress-free living. And without horse bills.
MP: Fair! You did spend all of your twenties worrying about mares and foals.
SM: That was the easy part! The hard part was the finances. At some point, I needed a new challenge.
MP: What about Kosmo (Kosmo’s Buddy)?
SM: She’s still at Newtown Anner Stud. Ron Blake always keeps me updated. I haven’t had the courage to go visit her yet. I’d probably fall apart seeing her. But she’s in great hands, and she had a full sibling to Knicks Go. They have sent her to great stallions. She seems lined up to hopefully hit another home run. She’s very loved, which is all I can ask for.
MP: Now, how about you – settling into Kentucky life?
SM: It’s been a big change. Maryland will always be home, but Kentucky is a whole different world. Maryland is family-oriented. You know everybody, and you root for each other’s horses. Here it’s not mom-and-pop anymore; it’s very commercial, very competitive.
Runnymede itself feels like a good fit for me. It reminds me a lot of home, an older, more traditional farm. By Kentucky standards, it’s boutique with around 150 horses instead of 300-plus. I was nervous coming into this role. It’s kind of like having your own foal. Even though it’s not mine, I want it to go well for everyone. I have a great team of mentors and coworkers here. It’s amazing what they have done in the last few years with Baeza, Goal Oriented, Mage, and Dornoch. Those are the horses you’re reading about.
And honestly, I’ve been humbled. Just when you think you know everything, horses prove you don’t. That old saying is true: the day you stop learning in this game, you should quit.
MP: So…any chance we get you back to Maryland?
SM: Ha! We’ll see. Maryland racing is buzzing again, and my options are open. But for now, I’m enjoying the epicenter of the Thoroughbred industry.
MP: The administrative role you’ve taken on could open even more doors. Perhaps this is your way of climbing the ladder? I bet we could get you back for the right number.
SM: Ha! Yes, I can be bought. Remember what I said about finances? I just need more of them. Happiness is for sale!
MP: One other famous mascot we have to check on, how’s Roger?
SM: Roger is thriving in Lexington. He goes everywhere with my roommate, who’s an assistant, and he’s basically iconic here, too. Except he did run straight into a neighbor’s house today. Still learning city manners.
MP: Iconic indeed. There was no hiding Sabrina and Roger in the GMC truck with Maryland Horse Breeders tags.
SM: Hey, I kept those tags for as long as I could. Roger and I proudly drove around Kentucky with them. Apparently, there is a law that forces you to switch.
