A Kentucky Derby for Brad Cox? Meet 7 contenders

Winning the Kentucky Derby has “always been the No. 1 goal” for trainer Brad Cox, who has never entered a horse in the race. This year, the picture looks different.

For starters he brings to the table Essential Quality, an early Derby favorite after winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. But the Louisville native has many more talented 3-year-olds, and he provided an update of those that might be seen at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May — or perhaps the last Friday in April in the Kentucky Oaks.

“Listen, I love winning Breeders’ Cup races. There’s no better feeling,” Cox said Tuesday. “And obviously, winning the Kentucky Oaks twice is unbelievable. But we definitely have our sights set on the Kentucky Derby. We’ve got some good colts, for sure.”

As for Essential Quality, who broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in September and then won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) in October, Cox is leaning toward a points prep next month.

“We’re looking at the Southwest or the Risen Star,” he said. “We’ll make our decision later as we get a little closer. Both races are in the middle of February, so we’ll probably have a pretty good idea which way we’re going to go the first part of February, which race we’re going to end up running in. But he had a fantastic work on Sunday … and just really, really breezed well. So he came out of the Breeders’ Cup in great order as well.”

In the Sunday workout, the Godolphin homebred went four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Fair Grounds. The 1 1/8-mile Risen Star (G2) is Feb. 13 at the Fair Grounds. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest (G3) will be Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park. At 8-1, Essential Quality now is the co-favorite with Sham Stakes winner Life is Good in Las Vegas futures.

Here is a rundown of Cox’s other possible Kentucky Derby contenders (best Las Vegas futures odds if listed are in parentheses):

Caddo River (25-1) — This Shortleaf Stable homebred by Hard Spun won in November at Churchill Downs in his third try.

“Caddo River is doing really well at Oaklawn,” Cox said. “He had a really good breeze this weekend. … We’re targeting the (Jan. 22) Smarty Jones with him. It’ll be his first race around two turns. We don’t think that will be an issue with him at all. He’s a big, strong, leggy horse that we always thought would be better around two turns, that’s already run three times — seven-eighths, seven-eighths and a mile around one turn at Churchill. And we’re looking forward to getting him around two turns, thinking he’s going to be a better horse around two turns.”

Prate (55-1) — Another Juddmonte Farms homebred by Into Mischief, Prate graduated on debut at the Fair Grounds on Dec. 19.

“Prate bounced out of his race really well,” Cox said. “He showed up and ran the race we expected first time. Very proud of him, very fast horse. He had a nice, easy half this weekend. Not certain where we’re going to land with him. We’re going to give him plenty of time to recover from that first effort. Like I said, he went a half-mile in 50 seconds, and I’ll talk it over with Garrett O’Rourke (general manager of Juddmonte USA) and come up with a game plan in the near future.”

Mandaloun (65-1) — Cox seemed very excited about this Juddmonte Farms homebred, who broke his maiden in October at Keeneland and then won an allowance race at Churchill on Nov. 28.

“He’s a really good colt. I think he could be any type of horse. I think he’s going to get better with two turns. He broke his maiden in three-quarters then won the allowance going seven-eighths at Churchill. I think he’s got a bright future. A very, very talented horse that we think a lot of.”

Do those thoughts include the Derby?

“He’s a Kentucky Derby horse, I do believe,” Cox said. “Hopefully. I think he’s that good. You’re also talking to someone who’s never had a horse in the Derby, so I hope to back some in this year.”

The Into Mischief colt is stabled at Fair Grounds, last working five furlongs in 1:00.6 on Saturday.

Swill (175-1) — This Munnings colt raced four times as a 2-year-old, breaking his maiden on third try and then finishing fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2). He came back Friday to finish fourth in the Jerome at Aqueduct.

“Swill didn’t perform quite as well as we expected in the Jerome,” Cox said. “So he’s going to be freshened up in Kentucky and give him a little time. No physical issues. He’s just a young horse that’s already made five starts that we feel needs a break. We’ll give him that, and hopefully he returns in the spring.”

Colonel Bowman — This Godolphin homebred by Curlin debuted Saturday at the Fair Grounds, coming in second to an impressive Defeater at six furlongs.

“He ran really well first time out,” Cox said. “Thought he raced a little green. I think he is a horse that’ll stretch at some point. I’m not saying I wouldn’t try him again around one turn or three-quarters. But at some point, with his pedigree and everything, I think he’s a horse that could do two turns. I was very happy with his performance, and I think he’ll move forward off of that.”

Cox said he’ll look to place Colonel Bowman in a maiden race at Fair Grounds or Oaklawn.

Donzi — This Distorted Humor colt also debuted in that maiden race with Defeater and Colonel Bowman, finishing fifth.

“Same thing with him. Another one that probably wants a little more ground, and he’ll get that in his next start,” Cox said.

Cox’s lineup of 3-year-old fillies is led by Aunt Pearl, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner who is 3-for-3.

“Aunt Pearl was given some time after the Breeders’ Cup — another one that made three nice starts as a 2-year-old,” Cox said. “Just not a lot of options for a filly that is accomplished as she is on the turf at the start of the year. So we thought it would be a great time to give her time. She is at Paul Sharp’s (stable at Ocala, Fla.). She’s back under tack, and she’ll be shipping to us (at the Fair Grounds) probably in a month or so.”

Travel Column — This Frosted filly also has had three starts, winning the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill on Nov. 28.

“Travel Column just got back on the work tab. She’s had a couple easy three-eighths since the Pocahontas (G3). She’s doing extremely well, probably go a half-mile with her this week. We’re targeting the Rachel Alexandra right now.”

Th G2 race at 1 1/16 mile will be at Fair Grounds on Feb. 13.

Sun Path — “She’s a Juddmonte homebred that’s won her last two. She broke her maiden at Churchill going 7/8, she won an allowance race — I want to say by 12 or 13 (it was 12 3/4 lengths) — at the Fair Grounds. It was a short field. We’re going to look at the Silverbulletday or the Washington with her. But she’s really doing well.”

The Silverbulletday (G2) is Jan. 16 at the Fair Grounds at 1 mile and 70 yards. The Martha Washington, at one mile, is Jan. 30 at Oaklawn.