Cowboy Culture purely turf – for now

Three wins from three starts, all at two turns, and a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in his stakes debut? Is this 3-year-old on the Triple Crown trail?

He is not.

Cowboy Culture has so far run only on turf, and on turf he will stay for the time being, according to trainer Brad Cox.

The winner of the $50,000 Keith Gee Memorial Stakes last Saturday at Fair Grounds, Cowboy Culture is likely to make his next start March 4 here in a similar race, the $50,000 Black Gold, Cox said. Another good performance, and Cowboy Culture might earn a shot at a larger prize in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in April.

Cowboy Culture, by Quality Road, debuted with a one-mile turf win last fall at Churchill Downs and won another one-mile grass race, a first-level allowance, in December at Fair Grounds. Last Saturday, he came from fifth while racing wide on the turn and into the homestretch to win the Keith Gee by three-quarters of a length over Girvin. His time of 1:37.44 on firm going produced a 90 Beyer, a strong number for an early-season 3-year-old turf race.

“I think he’s getting better,” said Florent Geroux, who has ridden Cowboy Culture in all three of his races.

Cox also has a 3-year-old dirt-stakes horse, Arklow, whom he confirmed as an intended starter for the Risen Star Stakes here Feb. 25. Arklow, still a maiden after four starts, finished fourth, beaten less than two lengths, in the Lecomte Stakes here Jan. 21. Arklow worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds last Saturday.