Coach Brad Cox is mapping out the next moves for some of his army of 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby (G1) circuit.
Cox’s list of leads grew on January 1st when he sent 1st-2nd finishers in $250,000 worth of Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn ParkThis is the first of four Kentucky Derby scoring races. very popular winning lineup co-owned by famous businessman North Little Rock, Ark., Frank Fletcher and Spendthrift Farm, remains undefeated with a three-fight win. angel of the empire . The winning lineup (3 to 3) placed bets and debuted twice.
“He’s a pretty smart horse,” Cox said during training on January 2 in Oaklawn. “I know I’ve said it many times, but he really is. He’s a horse that doesn’t overwork. He’s not too hard on himself and I think that’s going to take him a long way. The road is long and hopefully, he will allow to get more ground and obviously have a long racing career.”
Cox says Victory Formation seems to help Smarty Jones get out of good physical shape, while adding further race plans await for the son of 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tapwrit . Cox says Victory Formation is scheduled to return soon Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slotswhere he was stationed this winter.
Oaklawn’s Kentucky Derby continues with $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 mile on January 28, $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 mile on January 25 February and the $1.25 million Arkansas (G1) Derby at mile-and-a-half on April 1. Cox says it’s “too early” to know if Victory Formation will return to Oaklawn for point races. The Kentucky Derby is different or not, especially the Arkansas Derby, the race that Fletcher coveted most.
“I know well that Frank wants to win the Arkansas Derby, but we’ll do what’s best for the horse and see if he gets us there,” Cox said.
Cox said plans for the next race are also pending for Angel of Empire, who passed twice last month in Oaklawn ahead of Smarty Jones. Angel of Empire, by Classic Empire owned two wins around two rounds at Indianapolis horseshoe. He ran his fastest race in class over the weekend.
“I think the more ground there is, the better for him,” Cox said.
Victory Formation earned 10 points at the start of qualifying for the Kentucky Derby thanks to his Smarty Jones win. Angel of Empire gets four points. Based on official rankings from Churchill Downs, Cox has six of the top 15 horses on the latest Kentucky Derby rankings—No. 4 Jace’s Road (13 points), number 5 Instant coffee (12), No. 6 (10), No. 11 Log in (four), number 12 Verification in progress (four) and number 15 Angel of Empire (four).
Cox also trains undefeated corona (via Bolt d’Oro ), the outstanding winner of the Sugar Bowl’s $100,000 bets in six runs December 26 at the Fair Grounds; Giant naughty (into naughty ), runner-up in the $400,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes prize on December 17 at Remington Park; impressions (candy ride ), a one-mile sharp entry grant winner on December 17 in Oaklawn; Tapit’s conquest (faucet ), who broke her maiden break at 1 1/16 miles on October 1 at Churchill Downs; and Sneakers (Tapit), who broke her maidenhood at 1 1/16 miles away on December 3 at the Fair Grounds.
Cox said he plans to start Corona Bolt, Hit Show and possibly Jace’s Road in the Southwest. Cox says Giant Mischief is showing Rebel.
Cox, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning coach, won the 2021 Kentucky Derby (via disqualification) with mandalun and Belmont Stakes 2021 with the champion essential quality . The latter launched his 3-year campaign by capturing the Southwest.
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
