Cox eyeing Middle East stakes for Giant Mischief

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Giant Mischief, winner of the Fall Highweight Stakes on Nov. 29, will be aimed at a stakes in the Middle East in the first quarter of 2025, trainer Brad Cox said.

Cox said if Giant Mischief gets invited to the Grade 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Feb. 22 he would consider running him there. If not, then he would look for a race in the United States to prep for the Dubai Golden Shaheen on April 5 at Meydan.

Cox said Giant Mischief would soon ship to Payson Park in South Florida, where Cox has a 40-horse string for the first time.

“We’ll ship him to Payson and let him chill out a little bit,” Cox said. “If we like the way Saudi looks and if we’re invited and we can make the race we’ll entertain that idea. If we don’t, we may need or use a race in the states going to Dubai.”

Giant Mischief is 2 for 2 this year, winning an allowance race at Keeneland in October before taking the Fall Highweight.

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Giant Mischief missed a good part of 2024 due in part for it taking him a long time to recover from a van ride from Kentucky to California and back to Kentucky for a run in the Grade 1 Malibu last December at Santa Anita. He was ready to run in early September before having a minor setback.

“He’s a nice horse, he’s really starting to put it together,” Cox said.

Meanwhile, Cox said Alpine Princess, who finished second, beaten a head by Pretty Ana, in the Grade 3 Comley on Nov. 30, will likely make her next start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 25 at Sam Houston.

Alpine Princess also will be sent to Payson Park to train for the winter.

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