Knicks Go, a Maryland-bred, is a son of Paynter out of the Outflanker mare Kosmo’s Buddy, a stakes winner in her own right. Knicks Go, an $87,000 yearling purchase by owners Korea Racing Authority, is a six-time winner who’s earned almost $4.6 million in his career.

Three of the top five among older horses were bred in Virginia, and two of those are sons of top sire Into Mischief. That list is topped by Chess Chief, the Dallas Stewart trainee who was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm. He was along late to win the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at the Fair Grounds for his top win.

Also in the top five are Pegasus World Cup runner-up Largent, two-time stakes winner Boldor, and Gravesend Stakes winner Pete’s Play Call.

Among three-year-olds, the clear choice was the Maryland-bred Street Lute, one of four Maryland-breds among the top five.

A daughter of Street Magician out of the Midnight Lute mare Alottalute, Street Lute has a pair of stakes wins to her credit thus far in 2021. She scored in the Xtra Heat Stakes and the Wide Country, both at Laurel Park.

Street Lute was bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Tom Bowman and Dr. Brooke Bowman. She’s trained by John Robb for Lucky 7 Stables. Overall, she has seven wins from nine career starts and earnings of $420,220.

Three of the remaining four three-year-olds on the list – the lone exception being the Pennsylvania-bred filly I Get It – may compete against each other in the April 24 Federico Tesio Stakes. Those are Private Terms Stakes winner Shackled Love, along with Maythehorsebwithu, the beaten favorite in that race, and Jimmy Winkfield stakes winner Hello Hot Rod.

Eight of the 10 horses on the two lists are males, with Street Lute and I Get It the exceptions. Six were bred in Maryland, with three bred in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania. While none of the older horses in the top five is the product of a regional stallion, three of the sophomores – Street Lute (Street Magician), Maythehorsebwithu (Bullsbay), and Hello Hot Rod (Mosler) – are.

The monthly Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred is the only publication devoted to Thoroughbred breeding and racing in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Racing Biz, an online publication, is the independent voice for mid-Atlantic racing and breeding.

The poll is conducted of media members and others involved in the Thoroughbred industry and restricted to horses that have run in 2021 and were bred in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Carolinas.

TOP OLDER MIDLANTIC-BREDS

1. Knicks Go (MD), 5H by Paynter-Kosmo’s Buddy, by Outflanker; bred by Angie Moore and trained by Brad Cox for Korea Racing Authority. 2021 highlights: Won G1 Pegasus World Cup.
2. Chess Chief (VA), 5H by Into Mischief-Un Blessed, by Mineshaft; bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm and trained by Dallas Stewart for Estate of James Coleman, Jr. 2021 highlights: Won G2 New Orleans Classic, 3rd G3 Mineshaft.
3. Largent (VA), 5G by Into Mischief-Life in Seattle, by Unbridled; bred by Lazy Lane Farms LLC and trained by Todd Pletcher for Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. 2021 highlights: 2nd G1 Pegasus World Cup.
4. Boldor (VA), 5G by Munnings-Senate Caucus, by Siphon; bred by Carlos S. E. Moore and Gillian Gordon-Moore and trained by Steve Asmussen for Ed Orr and Susie Orr. 2021 highlights: Won Sam’s Town S., King Cotton S.
5. Pete’s Play Call (MD), 8G by Munnings-Taft Lil Queen, by Irish Open; bred by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes and trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb. 2021 highlights: Won Gravesend S., 2nd G3 Toboggan.

Also receiving votes: Sweet Bye and Bye, Tattooed, Ujjayi, Cordmaker, Hello Beautiful.

TOP 3yo MIDLANTIC-BREDS

1. Street Lute (MD), 3F by Street Magician-Alottalute, by Midnight Lute; bred by Dr. & Mrs. Thomas Bowman & Dr. Brooke Bowman and trained by John Robb for Lucky 7 Stables. 2021 highlights: Won Xtra Heat S., Wide Country S.
2. Maythehorsebwithu (PA), 3G by Bullsbay-Avani Force, by Forestry; bred by Beatrice Patterson & Vicky Schowe and trained by Brittany Russell for Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables LLC. 2021 highlights: Won Miracle Wood S.
3. I Get It (MD), 3F by Get Stormy-Twisted Beauty, by General Quarters; bred by Flying H Stables LLC and trained by Ronald Spatz for Gary Barber. 2021 highlights: Won Sanibel Island S., 3rd G3 Herecomesthebride S.
4. Shackled Love (MD), 3G by Shackleford-Steady N Love, by Not for Love; bred by ZWP Stable & Non Stop Stable and trained by Gary Capuano for ZWP Stable & Non Stop Stable. 2021 highlights: Won Private Terms S.
5. Hello Hot Rod (MD), 3C by Mosler-Hello Now, by Tiznow; bred by Hillwood Stables LLC and trained by Shawn Davis for George Sharp. 2021 highlights: Won Jimmy Winkfield S.

Also receiving votes: Kenny Had a Notion, Jaxon Traveler, Excellorator, Return the Ring, Mac Daddy Too.

Note: All horses listed at their 2021 ages.

Participating Voters: Ted Black (freelance writer), Michael Campbell (Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey), Joe Clancy (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Cindy Deubler (Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred), Linda Dougherty (freelance), Debbie Easter (Virginia Thoroughbred Association), Paul Espinosa (Charles Town Races), Rich Glazier (Delaware Park), Cricket Goodall (Maryland Horse Breeders Association), Jim Hague (freelance), Nick Hahn (freelance), Carol Holden (West Virginia Breeders Classics), Tom LaMarra (Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), Jeff Nations (freelance), Vinnie Perrone (freelance), Frank Petramalo (Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association), John Piassek (freelance), Gary Quill (The Racing Biz), David Richardson (Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association), Brian Sanfratello (Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association), Sal Sinatra (Maryland Jockey Club), Chris Sobocinski (Delaware Park), Dan Tordjman (freelance), Frank Vespe (The Racing Biz), Bill Watson (freelance), Lydia Williams (freelance), Bobby Zen (freelance).