Bonny South gives Cox a good shot at another Ashland win
It’s been a little more than two years since Brad Cox notched the first Grade 1 of his training career when Monomoy Girl won the 2018 Ashland at Keeneland. Cox sure wouldn’t mind making the 2020 Ashland his lucky 13th Grade 1 victory when he gives John Velazquez a leg up aboard Bonny South in the 83rd running Saturday.
“She’s been at Keeneland for quite a while now, training extremely well,” said Cox, referring to 10 breezes over the local surface since late April, the most recent being a five-furlong drill Saturday in 1:00.40.
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Bonny South was one of four or five 3-year-old fillies expected when Ashland entries are drawn Wednesday, along with Envoutante, Swiss Skydiver, Tonalist’s Shape, and the California invader Venetian Harbor. Bonny South might actually go favored if Swiss Skydiver runs instead against males in the Blue Grass Stakes.
“She might need a setup with the pace, but she’s sharp right now,” Cox said.
The Ashland is a 100-40-20-10 points qualifier toward the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks. Bonny South, a Juddmonte Farms homebred filly by Munnings, became a major Oaks contender by rallying to win her last start, the March 21 Fair Grounds Oaks.
Cox’s other stakes starters at Keeneland include Juliet Foxtrot in the Jenny Wiley and Arklow in the Grade 2 Elkhorn on Sunday, closing day. Both will be making their second start after returning from lengthy layoffs at the Churchill meet.
“I think they both will benefit from their last outs,” Cox said.
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Juliet Foxtrot was sixth as the favorite in the May 30 Mint Julep, and Arklow was beaten just a head as the favorite in the June 13 Louisville.
Cox said he intended to be at Keeneland on Saturday in lieu of traveling to New York to saddle Monomoy Girl, now 5, for the Grade 2 Ruffian the same day.
“With all the health scares and everything, I just think it’s best,” he said.