Cox seeks to add to Eclipse credentials with Bonny South in Falls City
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brad Cox has a lot to be thankful for. The 40-year-old Louisville native will celebrate Thanksgiving exactly where he wants to – at the track – when looking to strengthen his bid for the 2020 Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer.
Cox will send out Bonny South as the 8-5 program favorite in a field of nine fillies and mares in the annual Thanksgiving Day feature at Churchill Downs, the Grade 2, $200,000 Falls City. A victory would give Cox a career-high 29th graded stakes triumph in what has been yet another breakthrough season, one in which he won a record-tying four Breeders’ Cup races to emerge as arguably the top candidate for an Eclipse.
“It has been an incredible year,” said Cox, who can scarcely remember a Thanksgiving when he wasn’t on hand at Churchill. “I’m grateful to all my clients and staff and of course the horses. We’ve got a lot to celebrate.”
:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.
Bonny South was withheld from both the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks, which Cox won with Shedaresthedevil, and the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, which Cox won with Monomoy Girl. Instead, Bonny South was second in both the Grade 1 Alabama in mid-August and the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan in early October. That shrewd bit of scheduling leaves the Munnings filly fresh and eager to do her best work in the 1 1/8-mile Falls City, which Cox won last year with My Lady Curlin.
“We gave her plenty of time after the Black-Eyed Susan, and she’s done very well in her preparation for this,” Cox said. “I think she fits in really well with this field.”
Florent Geroux will be aboard the stretch-running Bonny South when they break from post 3. If there’s any knock against the filly, it’s that she leaves herself plenty to do, such as in the Black-Eyed Susan, when she was last of 10 for much of the way before launching a too-late bid.
If there’s not enough pace in the Falls City – and it’s unclear who might contest the early fractions among Our Super Freak, Market Rumor, or even Smooth With a Kick – then, yes, Bonny South could be vulnerable. Probably her top opponent is Envoutante, who’ll be looking to get first run on the favorite after breaking from post 1 under Brian Hernandez Jr. The Ken McPeek trainee was a romping winner of the Grade 3 Remington Oaks in her latest start Sept. 27.
Bonny South, Envoutante, and Market Rumor are the only 3-year-olds in the lineup. The last 3-year-old to win the Falls City was Ahh Chocolate in 2015.
:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.
This is the 105th running of the Falls City, which will be run at 3:53 p.m. Eastern as the 10th of 11 Thursday races. First post is 11:30 a.m. The local forecast calls for cloudy skies and a high of 55.
The Grade 3 Cardinal for fillies and mares was originally scheduled for Thursday, but Churchill has canceled turf racing for the rest of the year and the race was scrapped. Churchill officials on Monday announced plans for a $10 million renovation of the turf course next summer.
Fans continue to be permitted to attend the Churchill races for the balance of the fall meet, although there is no indoor dining or seating. Customer conveniences are minimal, owing to state-mandated pandemic protocols that became effective last weekend.