Maximum Security

New Year’s Day – Lil Indy, by Anasheed

Bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West

Prominent owner and breeder Edward A. Cox Jr. died last month in his native state of Illinois. He was 83.

Cox stopped at a horse farm in Louisville in 1960 while he and his wife were driving home from their honeymoon, sparking his interest in Thoroughbred breeding and racing and leading to more than 50 years’ involvement with the industry. He became a longtime associate of Claiborne Farm, co-owning 1984’s 3-year-old champion Swale, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, with the historic nursery.

In this year’s highly anticipated class of freshman sires, Spendthrift shuttle stallion Hampton Court was the first off the mark with a winner, as he looks to continue the legacy of his recently deceased sire Redoute’s Choice.

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah could be represented by his first starter on Friday evening, as he has an entrant at Dundalk in Ireland.

All eyes will be on Horus Bird in Dundalk’s first race on Friday, for 2-year-olds going five furlongs on the all-weather track. The local post time is 5:40 p.m., or 12:40 p.m. Eastern in the U.S.

Grade 1 winner Diversify was honored as the New York-bred horse of the year and also took home special recognition from Daily Racing Form at New York Thoroughbred Inc.’s annual awards banquet this week in Saratoga Springs, sponsored by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.

Stay Thirsty was trained by Todd Pletcher to win four graded stakes races, including a pair of Grade 1 events – and the horse wasn’t done giving to his trainer just yet. On Saturday, with Pletcher watching from his Florida office, Stay Thirsty, who now stands in California, was represented more than 8,300 miles away by Coal Front, winner of the Group 2, $1.5 million Godolphin Mile at Meydan. The victory was Pletcher’s first on a Dubai World Cup program.

“He had a fantastic run,” Pletcher said of Coal Front. “Our whole team is very proud of him.”

The New Vocations Thoroughbred adoption program has announced it has opened a satellite facility in Louisiana with the support of retired jockey Rosie Napravnik.

The New Vocations facility at the Equi-Best Equestrian Center in Covington, La., will focus on taking in horses retiring from Louisiana's four racetracks as well as training centers and farms within the state.

Hidden Scroll

Hard Spun–Sheba Queen, by Empire Maker

Bred in Kentucky by Juddmonte Farms

Flashy debut winner Hidden Scroll was the victim of a brutal pace when he faded to fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park earlier this month behind Code of Honor. Hidden Scroll, who is from an outstanding family typical of Juddmonte’s program, gets a chance at redemption in Saturday’s Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Much has been made about the female side of Chasing Yesterday’s family – after all, the Grade 1 winner is half-sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. But both sides of the filly’s family are outstanding.

The young stallion Bodemeister already has sired a Kentucky Derby winner, and he added another accomplishment to his growing résumé Saturday when two of his daughters finished in a dead heat for the victory in the $75,000 Any Limit Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Brunette Princess and Miss Marcela each earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 65 as they hit the wire together in the Any Limit. They finished the six furlongs in 1:12.49 while three lengths clear of the third-place finisher.