Picture: Casey Laughter/Eclipse Sportswire
Coach Brad Cox plans to move three graded stakes winners to Churchill Downs on Monday after his steady gained three of 5 graded stakes in Saturday’s Keeneland program, highlighted by Father Add’s 11-length win within the G1 Bluegrass.
“They’re all in good spirits this morning and can probably be shipped to Churchill Downs tomorrow,” stated Hint Messina, Cox’s assistant at Keeneland. Much more noiseMadison (G1) winner Eclatant and Commonwealth (G3) winner Saudi Crown.
“It was an excellent day,” Messina stated with some modesty.
With these three wins, Cox now has 197 wins at Keeneland (eighth all-time) and 42 stakes wins (fifth all-time at Keeneland).
“I bear in mind profitable the Muniz Memorial Basic (G2) on the Fairgrounds in 2020 at Factoris, the (Fairgrounds) Oaks (G2) at Bonney South and the (Louisiana) Derby (G2) at Wells Bayou,” Cox stated in a textual content message. “I do not know if I’d have performed it once more.”
Commandment, a Florida Derby (G1) winner and raced by Wasnan Racing, will be a part of the Cox workforce at Churchill Racetrack on Monday. Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Full Effort (owned by St. Elias Stables and Starlight Racing) has already arrived at Churchill and is awaiting a run within the Kentucky Derby.
Along with the three Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Cox expects at the least two different horses to run within the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks on Might 1: Fairgrounds Oaks (G2) winner Lifetime of Pleasure and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Promenade Queen.
Three trainers have gained the Oaks and Derby in the identical yr, the latest being Kenny McPeek, who led Torpedo Anna and Mystic Dan in 2024.
“It is going to be busy,” Messina stated of actions at Cox Barn in early Might.
Eclatant, owned by Stone Road Stables, may return to the $1 million Derby Metropolis Distaff (G1) on Kentucky Derby day. Saudi Crown, owned by FMQ Stables, may goal for the $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the identical day. Each races will cowl seven furlongs, the identical distance as Saturday’s victory.
Different main stakes winners on Saturday’s Keeneland card even have excessive hopes for Churchill.
Stormswake, who gained the 1-mile Appalachian Stakes (G2), is scheduled to move to Churchill in the course of this week to arrange for the Edgewood Stakes (G2) on Might 1, coach Brian Lynch stated. The mare is owned by William Werner.
“She’s going to take pleasure in one other 1/16 mile (at Edgewood),” Lynch stated in a textual content message.
Stormswake will run with out stablemate Sister Troyenne at Edgewood. Sister Troyenne completed fifth as a well-liked Appalachian horse.
“We will give ‘Sister T’ a while and regroup,” Lynch stated. “We have dominated out Edgewood.”
My Boy Prince additionally heads to Churchill after scoring his eighth graded victory for proprietor Gary Barber at Keeneland within the Shakertown Stakes (G2).
“I do not know when we’ll ship him out, however the subsequent factor on the schedule is the turf dash,” coach Mark Casse stated in a textual content message. The $600,000 Turf Dash (G2) might be held at Churchill on Might 2nd.
Coach Greg Sacco stated Loopy Mason, runner-up to the Commonwealth (G3) Saudi crown, will stay in Kentucky in the meanwhile. Loopy Mason is owned by Donna Wright & Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.
“He gained the race properly and plans to stay in Kentucky till Derby Day or the 7/8 race at Alysheva,” Sacco stated in a textual content message.
Choices embody the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the day of the Kentucky Derby and the Alisheba Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on Might 1st.
