Cox making battle plans for his army of 3-year-olds
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Brad Cox, who trains a slew of 3-year-old males at least Kentucky Derby trail-adjacent, if not already traveling the road to the Derby, is solidifying plans for this bevy of horses.
Most notably, Angel of Empire, upset winner of the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds, is slated to have his final Derby prep April 1 at Oaklawn in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby. Angel of Empire finished second at Oaklawn in the Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 1 and was based there before and after that start, doing all his serious prep work for the Risen Star at Oaklawn before shipping to Fair Grounds. Following the Risen Star, he remained with Cox’s string in New Orleans, posting timed workouts March 4 and March 11.
Cox also said Verifying, a troubled fourth Feb. 25 in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, is being aimed toward the Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 at Keeneland. Second last fall in the Grade 1 Champagne, Verifying got stuck in traffic through the final quarter-mile of the Rebel and never could find room to run. He’d previously notched a sharp Oaklawn allowance win.
Cox definitely plans to enter two horses Saturday for the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 25. Instant Coffee, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club and the Lecomte in his last two starts, is the likely Louisiana Derby favorite. Cox’s other confirmed starter is Jace’s Road, a 5 1/2-length winner of the Gun Runner on Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds – a race in which Gotham Stakes winner Raise Cain finished second.
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More recently, Jace’s Road was a well-beaten fifth Jan. 28 in the Southwest at Oaklawn. The Southwest was contested on a sloppy surface, and Jace’s Road’s other start on a sloppy track also yielded a poor performance.
Tapit’s Conquest, fourth in the Risen Star, could be part of the Louisiana Derby field but also is under consideration for the Wood Memorial on April 8 at Aqueduct. Cox definitely is aiming Gotham runner-up Slip Mahoney to the Wood, while Withers Stakes winner Hit Show is still another Wood possible but also has the Arkansas Derby as an option.
Tapit Shoes, who ran well finishing third in a Feb. 18 Fair Grounds allowance race, had been considered for the Louisiana Derby but could instead be pointed toward a first-level allowance race at Keeneland in April.
Victory Formation, ninth as the Risen Star favorite after winning his first three starts, missed a planned workout last weekend because of a “little accident in his stall,” Cox said, but is not expected to miss much training.
And, finally, Cox has fast 3-year-olds in a maiden route race Saturday at Fair Grounds and a first-level route allowance on Sunday.
Bishops Bay, an Uncle Mo colt who got a 97 Beyer Speed Figure winning his career debut, a Feb. 18 Fair Grounds sprint, goes one mile and 70 yards in Sunday’s sixth race, and it’s not too late for him to make noise in important spring races. Cox also entered second-time starter Demolition Duke, who won his Fair Grounds debut, a sprint, over Bo Cruz, who returned with a romping maiden victory.
Saturday’s runner, First Mission, finished second, beaten just three-quarters of a length by Bishops Bay, in his Feb. 18 debut. He’ll be an odds-on favorite to graduate in Saturday’s seventh race, a 1 1/16-mile maiden contest.
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