Cox weighs options to continue strong start to Racing Festival of the South
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox ushered in the $5.4 million Racing Festival of the South at Oaklawn Park with a bang last Saturday, winning both the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby with Cyberknife and the Grade 3, $400,000 Oaklawn Mile with Fulsome.
“That was huge with those two wins,” Cox said.
The festival stakes are being run throughout the month this meet, and Cox could see festival action next on April 23. He said Plainsman is being pointed to the card’s Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap, while Shared Sense and Warrant will be nominated. Warrant could go in the 1 1/8-mile race or target the Grade 3, $300,000 Ben Ali on April 23 at Keeneland, Cox said.
The barn’s nominees for the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap on the same card will include 2020 Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil. She also will be nominated to the Grade 1, $750,000 La Troienne on May 6 at Churchill Downs.
“Right now, plan A is the La Troienne, but I would never rule out the Apple Blossom,” Cox said. “A lot of it has to do with the spacing and trying to get the filly to the Breeders’ Cup. She likes Oaklawn. She’s run great here. She’s never been beaten at Churchill Downs. She’s 5 for 5 there.”
Cox said he also plans to nominate Bonny South for the Apple Blossom, with another option for the Grade 2 winner the $300,000 Doubledogdare on April 22 at Keeneland. Cox said plans have not yet been determined for Coach, who earlier in the meet won the Pippin at Oaklawn.
“Hopefully, we can be effective in those two million-dollar races,” Cox said.
The April 23 card also will include the $150,000 Oaklawn Stakes for 3-year-olds, and Cox said he will nominate a number of horses for the 1 1/8-mile race. He said he expects the stable to have a representative.
The Arkansas Derby was the first of two Grade 1 races that are annually run at Oaklawn, with the other the Apple Blossom. Cox had been second in both races last year, but reached a notable feat with Cyberknife.
“It was the first Grade 1 win we’ve ever had at Oaklawn,” Cox said.
Cox has won 258 races from 1,053 starts at Oaklawn since he saddled his first local runner in 2016, according to Daily Racing Form statistics. Of the wins, 27 have come in stakes at Oaklawn. Cox-trained horses have earned a cumulative $17.5 million in Hot Springs.
Cyberknife is now headed to the Kentucky Derby. Fulsome, meanwhile, is possible for the Grade 2, $500,000 Alysheba on May 6 at Churchill, Cox said. The horse earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99 in the Oaklawn Mile, which was his first start since September.
“He came out of the race really good,” Cox said Sunday. “It was a big effort. He’d been training like he was going to run a big race.
“I was glad that he was able to run against older horses for the first time, showed that he’s going to be able to compete against them. That was a good group. I’m hoping that he can continue to improve – maybe be a factor in the handicap division. It was a big run.”
Cox entered the new race week at Oaklawn leading all trainers in stable earnings with $3.2 million, according to statistics from the track. Florent Geroux, who was aboard Fulsome and Cyberknife and on the same card also won the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy with Yuugiri, leads all local riders in mount earnings with $3.4 million.