Cox wins Pimlico trainer bonus

BALTIMORE - Brad Cox nailed down first prize over Steve Asmussen in the Maryland Jockey Club’s $100,000 trainer participation bonus program in the Preakness by sending out third-place finisher Owendale and fourth-place Warrior’s Charge. Asmussen finished fifth in the Preakness with Laughing Fox.

To be eligible to share in the bonus pool, a trainer must have started at least five horses in the 16 stakes races during Preakness weekend. Horses accumulated points based on their finish position.

Cox earned a $50,000 bonus by earning 36 points, three more than Asmussen, who had won contest the past two years.

In addition to his Preakness starters, Cox won the Grade 3 Miss Preakness with Covfefe and the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff with Mylady Curlin. He also finished second with Ulele in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan.

Asmussen earned $25,000 for finishing second. The other trainers to earn bonuses were Graham Motion ($12,000) with 32 points, Todd Pletcher ($7,000) with 29 points, Arnaud Delacour ($4,000) with 24 points, and Mike Trombetta ($2,000) with 9 points.

The $50,000 bonus pool for trainer starting horses in non-stakes races was won by Ron Moquett ($25,000), followed by Motion ($10,000), Jeremiah O’Dwyer ($7,500), Jeremiah Englehart ($4,000), Pletcher ($2,500), and Damon Dilodovico ($1,000).