2021 Eclipse Awards: Juju's Map

Brad Cox was hoping history would repeat itself when he brought Juju’s Map to California for the Breeders’ Cup.

It was in 2019 that Cox brought British Idiom, the winner of the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades, to clinch a divisional Eclipse Award by capturing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. So when Juju’s Map won the 2021 Alcibiades at Keeneland, hope was alive for another divisional Eclipse.

Alas, it wasn’t to be. Although she did fare creditably in the Nov. 5 Net Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, Juju’s Map wound up a distant second behind Echo Zulu in the definitive race for 2-year-old fillies, virtually extinguishing her chances at a championship.

Nonetheless, it was an outstanding year for Juju’s Map.

“I’m very happy with the way she developed in a relatively short time and what that holds for the future,” said Cox.

Juju’s Map began her career in the relative obscurity of Ellis Park in western Kentucky, where Cox had a sizable string because of the summer closure of his main base at Churchill Downs. Juju’s Map finished second in her July 25 debut going 5 1/2 furlongs, then was an easy winner of a maiden race when stretched out to a mile in early September.

:: Full list of 2021 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Five weeks later, Juju’s Map became a Grade 1 winner by dominating the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades. Ridden by Florent Geroux, who was aboard for all four of the bay filly’s starts, she took over at the top of the stretch, drawing clear to prevail by 4 1/4 lengths in a breakthrough performance.

“She sat close to a fast pace and still finished strongly, which is what good horses do,” Cox said afterward.

In the Breeders’ Cup, Juju’s Map sat a close third behind wire-to-wire winner Echo Zulu for much of the 1 1/16-mile trip before settling for second, 5 1/4 lengths back. All in all, it was a solid end to a promising campaign.

“We couldn’t match the winner, but we’re still proud of all she’s done,” said Cox.

Bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III, Juju’s Map was sired by Liam’s Map and was produced by Nagambie, by Flatter. She was purchased for $300,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sales by the Albaugh Family Stables of Iowa billionaire Dennis Albaugh. The Albaughs have been represented in prior years by such standouts as Brody’s Cause, Free Drop Billy, and Dennis’ Moment. Juju’s Map was the first horse Cox trained for them.

Cox has given Juju’s Map a short break before intending to gear her back up at Fair Grounds for a 2022 campaign he hopes will result in a berth in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill.