Cox looks ready to continue hot streak Friday
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brad Cox has accomplished a great many things in a relatively short time. But it sure seems like the 38-year-old trainer has outdone even himself the last couple of weeks.
Two weeks ago Friday at Churchill Downs, Cox won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks with Shedaresthedevil and the Grade 1 La Troienne with Monomoy Girl. And that was just for starters.
Cox then upset Newspaperofrecord with Beau Recall in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on Kentucky Derby Day. He then proceeded to win the richest race of the Kentucky Downs meet, which ended Wednesday, when Arklow took the $1 million Kentucky Turf Cup on Saturday. The momentum was further sustained Tuesday, when Cox not only won the $400,000 Untapable at Kentucky Downs with a highly promising 2-year-old filly named Emro, but he also had four winners the same day at Indiana Grand for good measure.
All this was happening while Cox was mixing in some serious prospecting at the yearling sales at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland.
“Lots of running up and down these highways,” he said. “It’s been an incredibly busy time but a great time. It’s all very rewarding and I’m very grateful.”
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Cox will be looking to maintain his hot hand Friday when back at his home track of Churchill where he’ll saddle Communicator as the favorite in the only allowance on a 10-race program. A 4-year-old Bernardini gelding, Commuicator has been regrouped following a disappointing defeat as an odds-on favorite in February at Oaklawn Park.
“He came out of the Oaklawn race needing time off,” said Cox. “I do like how he’s been training since we got him back in.”
Communicator, with Florent Geroux to ride, will break from post 7 as one of eight 3-year-olds and upward in the Friday feature, a $77,000 first-level race at 1 1/8 miles. The 4-year-old half-brother to 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Accelerate flashed his potential last fall at Aqueduct with a maiden victory that earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, easily the highest by any in this field.
“A mile and an eighth can be pretty demanding off a layoff like this,” Cox cautioned. “But he did have a couple of really nice runs in New York over the winter, so we know he’s a nice horse.”
Admire (post 1, Joe Talamo) looks like the top threat to Communicator following a runner-up finish at this same level last month at Ellis Park. The Dale Romans trainee won his two prior starts, beginning with a June 12 race at Churchill.
Aside from Communicator, Cox also has top contenders in three other Friday races, those being Ten Flat (race 5), Frost or Frippery (race 6), and a first-time starter, Inspector Frost (race 7) – so his hot streak might very well continue.
Sunny skies and high temperatures around 70 are in the local forecast through Sunday and beyond. There are no stakes here this weekend, with the only remaining stakes at the meet, which runs through Sept. 27, being the Grade 3 Ack Ack on Sept. 26.
Daily first post for the balance of the 14-day September meet is 12:45 p.m. Eastern. Live televised action of the entire Friday card is available on FS2.