Cox zeroing in on graded stakes for Kinetic, Bishops Bay

Trainer Brad Cox saddled a pair of notable older horses to separate wins on the Southwest undercard last month at Oaklawn Park and now both Kinetic and Bishops Bay could be bound for graded stakes action.

Kinetic won the $145,000 General MacArthur, a new overnight stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, on Jan. 25 and is now 3 for 3 at the distance. Kinetic earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91. One start prior, Kinetic had run second to Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown in the Tenacious at Fair Grounds.

“He shipped to the Fair Grounds [and] is doing well,” Cox said Tuesday. “We’ll run back in stakes company at some point, could be the Essex in March. That’s one race. But there’s also a couple of other things in play as well.”

The Grade 3, $500,000 Essex is a 1 1/8-mile race March 22 at Oaklawn. Cox won it last year with First Mission.

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Kinetic is now 4 for 6 with his win in the General MacArthur. The 4-year-old by Street Sense is a full brother to Comparative, winner of the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn, and Shared Sense, winner of the Grade 3 Indiana Derby and Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby. Kinetic, a Godolphin homebred, won the General MacArthur by three-quarters of a length.

“We’re excited he was able to win,” Cox said. “He obviously raced a little green late. He’s done that in his last two starts, where he’s just kind of drifted to the inside rail a little bit. But look, he’s got a world of talent, is light on seasoning, and I think the best is yet to come.”

Bishops Bay won an allowance over 1 1/16 miles on the Southwest card and for the effort earned a Beyer of 92. He is now 4 for 7. He came into the race off a runner-up finish by a head in a Jan. 5 allowance at Oaklawn.

“He came out of it well, shipped to the Fair Grounds,” Cox said. “He’s kind of on the same path, the New Orleans Classic, Essex, something like that. We ran him back a little quick, so I want to give him time off that last race.

“It looks like he’s still figuring it out. I know he’s 5, but he’s lightly raced. He’s a good colt, has a lot of talent. I think he’s a graded stakes horse.”

The Grade 2, $500,000 New Orleans Classic is a 1 1/8-mile race set for March 22 at Fair Grounds.

Among the barn’s older females, Alpine Princess also was in action Jan. 25, finishing second by a neck in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston. It was the meet’s richest race, and she earned a Beyer of 90.

“She shipped back to Fair Grounds,” Cox said. “I’m not sure where she’ll land. It’s possible we could look at the Azeri for her. There’s not a lot of options for two-turn fillies right now. That’s one race we’ll nominate to for sure.”

The Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri is March 8 at Oaklawn.

Alpine Princess won the Remington Park Oaks last year and made her 4-year-old debut in the Houston Ladies Classic. She came into the race off a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Comely at Aqueduct.

Muhimma, winner of the Grade 2 Demoiselle on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct, could launch her 3-year-old season in the Grade 3, $500,000 Honeybee on Feb. 22, according to Cox. She is unbeaten in three starts for Shadwell Stable, with her other two wins coming in sprints at Churchill Downs. The Honeybee rewards qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks.

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