Cox edges Asmussen in Churchill fall trainer standings

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – One time might be a fluke. Two times in a row, however, is something entirely different.

After earning his first Churchill Downs training title at the 11-day September meet, Brad Cox won another one when outlasting 18-time Churchill titlist Steve Asmussen on the final program of the 21-day fall meet. Both trainers sent out one winner apiece Sunday, giving Cox a 13-12 edge after an uncoupled Asmussen entry finished second and sixth in the final race of the meet.

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“It means a lot to win here,” said Cox, a 37-year-old native and lifelong resident of Louisville. “It was a great team effort among all my owners and my help and everyone else involved. Hopefully we’ll be ready to rock and roll when we come back here in the spring.”

For Asmussen, all was not lost on closing weekend – not even close. He had a combined three winners on the last two days, all of them promising 2-year-olds: Mia Mischief (90 Beyer) in an allowance, and Dream Baby Dream (72) and New York Central (81) in maiden races.