Chocolate Ride on target for Bradley

NEW ORLEANS – Chocolate Ride, the top turf horse in trainer Brad Cox’s barn, breezed a half-mile in 50 seconds Dec. 19 and is progressing nicely toward the Grade 3 Col. E.R. Bradley Handicap on Jan. 16, Cox said.

Chocolate Ride, who won the Grade 2 Mervin H. Muniz Memorial in March at Fair Grounds, began this current local season with an optional-claiming victory Nov. 27. He was racing for the first time since finishing eighth in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on May 2 at Churchill Downs. After that race, he was sidelined with hock issues.

“He’s better than ever,” Cox said. “We’re really happy with where he is right now – his feet, the way he’s training, and his attitude.”

A Grade 1 win is the goal for 2016 for Chocolate Ride, the trainer said.