Cox maps plans for Mr. Misunderstood, other Louisiana Downs stakes winners

Trainer Brad Cox had a stakes triple at Louisiana Downs on Saturday, and his three winners, led by Super Derby hero Mr. Misunderstood, were back home at Churchill Downs by Sunday. There are varying plans going forward for the horses.

Mr. Misunderstood improved his turf record to 5 for 5 in the $200,000 Super Derby, which was run on the grass for the first time in its 38 runnings. He sat just off a pedestrian pace under Chris Rosier and darted home by three lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race. Mr. Misunderstood equalled his best Beyer Speed Figure, an 89.

“He ran really well,” Cox said Monday. “Obviously, we’re super-pleased with the ride and where he was positioned early in the race with the lack of pace. He kicked on well. We’ll try to keep him with the 3-year-olds the rest of the year.”

Cox said he will look for turf opportunities in Kentucky for Mr. Misunderstood, but felt the $100,000 Jefferson Cup on Sept. 30 at Churchill Downs might be back too quick. Mr. Misunderstood won his second straight stakes in the Super Derby, following the $60,000 Prelude at Louisiana Downs for which he earned a fees-paid berth into the Super Derby.

“We’ve got no immediate plans,” Cox said. “We’ll try to keep him home, being in Kentucky. We’ll kind of see what plays out in Kentucky.”

Mr. Misunderstood races for Staton Flurry.

Lady O’Toole won the $60,000 Happy Ticket for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday at Louisiana Downs, and Cox said she could see stakes action next in either Kentucky or Texas. She improved her record to 3 for 4 winning the mile turf race by 3 1/4 lengths. Lady O’Toole earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 72.

Cox said possible spots for Lady O’Toole are the $150,000 Jessamine on the Keeneland turf Oct. 11, or the $75,000 La Senorita, also on the grass, at Retama Park Oct. 14.

Lady O’Toole won her two-turn and turf debut in the Happy Ticket. She is by Colonel John and from the female family of Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed. Lady O’Toole races for Steve Landers.

Quinta Verde gave Cox his first stakes winner on the card, when she rolled by 3 1/4 lengths in the $60,000 River Cities. It was the first stakes win for the 5-year-old mare, who was Group 3-placed in her native Ireland in 2014. Cox said Quinta Verde is scheduled to be sold at auction in November.

“We’d like to get one more start in her prior to that,” he said. “Where that is, we do not know right now.”

Quinta Verde earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 76. She races for Swift Thoroughbreds, Sheep Pond Partners, and Bradley Thoroughbreds.

Cox won five races from eight starters around the country on Saturday, with his other wins coming in overnight races with Snack Shack at Indiana Grand and High Noon Rider at Kentucky Downs. Both horses were scratched from Louisiana Downs stakes Saturday, as was Sister Blues, who instead is entered Thursday at Kentucky Downs in the Ramsey Farm Stakes, said Cox.

“It was a good day,” he said.