Kentucky Derby: Cox opts for team drills for his trio
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Brad Cox got strong performances from his two Kentucky Derby runners in 2021, Mandaloun crossing the wire second, Essential Quality fourth. Mandaloun eventually became the Derby winner through Medina Spirit’s disqualification, and one might think, a year after getting good runs from his two Derby starters, Cox would approach the race the same way. Not exactly.
Mandaloun worked by himself in his final Kentucky Derby drill one week out from the 2021 Derby; Essential Quality, for the second week in a row, was partnered with an older horse named Spa City. This time around, all three of Cox’s expected Derby starters worked in company.
Tawny Port, who will be an outsider in the betting despite winning the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland last out, worked with the older horse Shared Sense. And Cox’s two primary Derby runners, Cyberknife and Zozos, worked together. Daily Racing Form clocked Cyberknife in 58.84 for five furlongs, Zozos in 59.04.
The pairings, of course, had been closely considered.
“You absolutely handicap your works. You want to match the right horses with each other,” Cox said.
Zozos, second in the Louisiana Derby, and Cyberknife, winner of the Arkansas Derby, had worked together once over the winter at Fair Grounds. Both put a lot into their breezes, competitive and capable colts.
“I thought it would be a good matchup and it worked out well,” Cox said. “Tawny Port, I wasn’t doing as much with him, but he breezed well enough. He and Shared Sense are two horses that might not be the greatest horses in the morning, but they complement each other well.”
Daily Racing Form timed Tawny Port’s half-mile breeze in 49.42.
Cox was high on both his Derby runners last year – Mandaloun especially – and carries the same confident air into this Triple Crown season.
“I think they’re training every bit as well as the ones last year, I really do. Cyberknife’s two works have been really, really good. Zozos has been good as well,” Cox said.
Asked to pick an ideal post position for these two horses, Cox selected 10 for Cyberknife, 7 or 8 for Zozos, who figures to be the more forwardly placed of the two next Saturday.