Preparing for a longer fair base works well for Cox

news7g03/18/2023

2 4 minutes read

Preparing for a longer fair base works well for Cox

When coach Brad Cox first noticed in 2020 that the gap between Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) was Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots was wide open, he thought his eyes were deceiving him.

“I thought it was a typo,” he recalls. “I called Scott Jones (Fair Grounds race secretary) and asked if it was an error in the conditions book and he said ‘no’ and I said to him, ‘I don’t know if that’s the case. is an opinion or not.'”

The switches involved a half-length stretch for both 3-year-old stakes, extending the Risen Star by 1 1/8 mile and the Louisiana Derby by 1 3/16 mile, making it the longest game of all time. Kentucky Derby (G1) prepares in the United States.

Turns out, it didn’t take long for Cox’s tune to quickly change.

He won a part of Resurrection Star 2020 with Mr. Monomoy and the Louisiana Derby with Well of Bayou . He also posted a third consecutive Risen Star win last month with angel of the empire and finished second in last year’s Louisiana Derby with Zozos .

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Cox said: “I really wondered about it but it worked for us and I have to credit Scott Jones. “It’s a big draw with the big courts. Overall, this Fair Grounds road to the Kentucky Derby or Triple Crown is a great route to take.”

Cox’s joy with the changes may only increase next week when the two-time Eclipse Prize winner will send 3 of the 12 starters in the $1 million Louisiana Derby, including the winner. a probable favorite in Gold Square’s Instant coffee .

the son of Bolt d’Oro , Instant Coffee landed in second place in field 12 at the March 18th place draw for the Kentucky Derby prep that yielded 100-40-30-20-10 points for five winners. top destination. Win in Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and then Lecomte Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds gave him 32 qualifying points (9th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard) and winning the final prep for Run for the Roses will likely help. he’s no less than the third favorite on the first Saturday in May.

“He always shows up and doesn’t show me any sign that he’s regressing. He’s not the flashiest horse but we like what we’ve seen since Lecomte. The plan. is to have him run three laps before the Kentucky Derby and hopefully he can finish his spot with a big effort in the Louisiana Derby,” Cox said.

Instant Coffee has faced the most beloved of the Kentucky Derby Forte placed fourth behind him in Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keenelandbut Cox believes Instant Coffee’s inexperience worked against him that October afternoon.

“Forte is the leader in the club, and absolutely deserves it. But when I look back on Instant Coffee’s race with him in the second start, I wonder if he was. a bit more seasoned, he could have finished and moved closer to the finish. He was a bit green early in the race and unstable. He’s learned a lot since then and is a pretty good horse.”

Get out Uncle Mo mare Follow No One, Instant Coffee was purchased for $200,000 from his breeder’s Upson Downs Farms consignment at the September Annual Sale in Keeneland by Joe Hardoon, campaign manager. racing for Al Gold owners.

For other Cox starters, West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables’ Jace’s Road will expect sunny skies on Louisiana Derby Day. the son of Quality Sugar he won the Gun Runner Stakes 5 1/2 but was sandwiched between that win being a fifth in Southwest Stakes (G3) and an eighth in Street Sense Stakes (G3), both on sloppy tracks .

“I think you have to throw his two races in the mud. That’s what I hope,” said Cox, who has caught six of the 27 Kentucky Derby qualifying races. “I think he has talent, but he has to step forward in the afternoon.”

Cox’s Tapit’s conquest ranked fourth in the Resurrection Star when it launched its stake. The faucet colt owned by Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Purebred and Madaket Stables seemed poised to make the long haul in the Resurrection Star but lost in the final race.

“He seems to be growing mentally and physically,” Cox said. “At 3/16 in Risen Star, I thought the race was for it, but he didn’t take any action. However, he has talent and I don’t think we’ve done it. see the best of him.”

Besides the Cox trio, top contenders include RT Racing Stable and Cyprus Creek Equine’s Thunder the son of into naughty who came in second in Resurrection Stars for Coach Ken McPeek.

Spendthrift Farm undefeated Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo ) started an optional 7 3/4 long stipend to win at Gulfstream Park for coach Todd Pletcher in the start of his second career.

disarm Thoroughbred son of Winchell Purebred gunman can take a step forward after the end of a tough second in the February 19 options claim race at Oaklawn Park. It was his first game for coach Steve Asmussen since his first win on August 6 at Racecourse Saratoga.

The full field, from the rails out, includes Buyer’s Revenge Instant coffee, 3rd prize Curly Jack Solar Thunder, Disarm, Kingsbarns, Cagliostro , Single ruler Tapit’s conquest, Denington Jace’s Road, and Base beater .