Cox loaded with undefeated graded-stakes-winning fillies

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Brad Cox will do his best to find a way to keep his trio of undefeated graded-stakes-winning fillies separated as they attempt to make their way to the May 2 Kentucky Oaks.

Muhimma, gate-to-wire winner of Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle, will join her undefeated stablemate Good Cheer at Payson Park in Florida in the coming days while Cox plots out a campaign for those two as well as the three-time Grade 1 winner Immersive, who is stabled at Fair Grounds.

As is the case for the soon-to-be 3-year-old colts, there will be plenty of options for 3-year-old fillies during the winter. Cox said he will utilize the stakes program at Fair Grounds and Oaklawn for sure, and mentioned the possibility of Tampa Bay/Gulfstream Park as a potential landing spot for one of the trio.

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“We’ll nominate them all to these spots and somehow come up with a plan, look at the pace setup in these races, see what makes the most sense,” Cox said Sunday. “It’s safe to say that with all three of them we’re looking at two races before the Oaks. Where, I don’t know.”

Cox also mentioned that it is likely none of the trio would start until February. At Fair Grounds, there is the Grade 2, $300,000 Rachel Alexandra on Feb. 15, while at Oaklawn there is the Grade 3, $500,000 Honeybee on Feb. 22. On Feb. 8, Tampa Bay Downs has the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes.

Cox said he was considering running Muhimma in the Untapable Stakes at Fair Grounds on Dec. 21, but reversed course to the Demoiselle because it was graded.

“This race looked like it set up right for Muhimma; didn’t love the one hole, but she was able to overcome it,” Cox said.

Muhimma, a daughter of Munnings, ran 1 1/8-miles in 1:49.84, which is the fastest of 50 runnings of the Demoiselle to be contested at that distance. It was also .53 seconds faster than the final time of the Remsen.

Muhimma earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

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