Prioress Stakes runs through Break Even

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Brad Cox has done a fantastic job keeping his 3-year-old filly sprinters separate while still being able to win stakes races.

Break Even won the Coronation Cup Stakes on turf July 14 at Saratoga for her sixth victory in as many career starts. Covfefe won the Grade 1 Test here Aug. 3 and is now 4 for 6 heading into the fall.

Saturday at Saratoga, Cox appears to have found another terrific spot for Break Even, who looms a heavy favorite in the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress Stakes.

The Prioress, at six furlongs on dirt, drew six runners, but it remains to be seen if all run. South of France, Break Curfew, and Royal Charlotte were very late entries Wednesday.

Break Even, a daughter of Country Day, won her first five races on dirt before Cox put her on the turf in the Coronation Cup. As she did in most of her races on dirt, Break Even went gate to wire in the Coronation Cup to win by a length.

“Judging by numbers, it’s not as if the grass moved her forward,” Cox said. “We’re going back to the dirt. With as much speed as she has, how far they can go is the question. We know she can go three-quarters. It’s all about the setup.”

Cox shipped Break Even back to Kentucky after the Coronation Cup, then shipped her to Saratoga in time to get a workout over the main track. The work was done in the dark, and Cox said, “She galloped out huge.”

Break Even breaks from post 3 under Shaun Bridgmohan.

Break Curfew is drawn outside of Break Even. Break Curfew was claimed on Aug. 17 for $75,000 by Toby Sheets, an assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen.

Royal Charlotte won her first four starts, including the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes, before she finished sixth of seven in the Grade 1 Test. Trainer Chad Brown was perplexed by the race and said running here could bridge the gap to the Raven Run on Oct. 19 at Keeneland.

“Either she didn’t like the track that day or she wasn’t feeling well,” he said. “Something discouraged her. I’m not sure what because she was training quite well going into the race. She’s come back and had a couple of easy breezes. She’s sound. She’s acting good.”

Risky Mandate, who is 2 for 2 including a solid allowance win here July 24, and Kept True, winner of New York-bred allowance races at Belmont and Saratoga, complete the field.