Cox unearths local 'Treasure'

Although trainer Brad Cox has shipped the bulk of his Payson Park-based stable north for the spring, he still has some bullets to fire during the current session. The first of these is the undefeated Sweet Treasure, who tops a field of six 3-year-old fillies going a mile and 70 yards over the synthetic Tapeta track in Thursday’s $57,000 allowance feature.

Sweet Treasure, a daughter of Twirling Candy, won her only two starts at 2, with both victories coming in gate-to-wire fashion on the grass. The first victory came in a maiden special weight test at Horseshoe Indianapolis, with the second coming against a strong field of entry-level allowance foes going 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs.

The promising Sweet Treasure will finally make her much-awaited 3-year-old debut off a series of six works at Payson, the last two of which came on turf.

Sweet Treasure, who appears to be the controlling speed in the headliner, will face a lineup that includes stakes winner Special Aviator; Miss Mary Nell, already a three-time winner for trainer Carlos David; the Mark Casse-trained duo of Tiz Her Money and Smudge; and Hello Hello Hello, a multiple winner over the Tapeta course.

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