Barn Tour: Cox shines early at Saratoga with well-stocked stable

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

It seems as though Brad Cox was destined to make his mark in racing. He grew up two blocks from Churchill Downs, and his father, Jerry, often took him to that track. He was studying past performances by the time he was 12, began working as a hotwalker a year later and opened his own barn when he was 24.

Cox gradually built his stable into a powerhouse that flexed its muscle when he saddled four winners at the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. That feat led to the Eclipse Award as leading trainer in North America for the season.

Cox, 42, has firmly established himself among the elite trainers. He showed how well-stocked he is for Saratoga when he sent out a winner in each of the meet’s first three days. He provided an overview of some of his top talent during a Barn Tour for Horse Racing Nation:

Caravel. Count Caravel among the horses who thrive at Saratoga. The 5-year-old gray daughter of Mizzen Mast might be hard to stop when she defends her title in the Caress Stakes (G3) on Saturday. She tuned up for that spot with a four-furlong drill in 49.6 seconds at the Oklahoma turf training track this past Sunday with Tyler Gaffalione aboard. Cox described that as a “maintenance move.”

Matareya. Everything is going the way of this 3-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile during a 4-for-4 campaign. Echo Zulu’s late scratch paved the way for an easy front-running victory by 6 1/4 lengths in the June 11 Acorn (G1) at Belmont Park in her latest start. The Aug. 6 Test (G1) is up next. Cox: “We’re cutting her back to seven-eighths after winning the Acorn. We really think that is her preferred distance. She’s had a fantastic year. Hopefully, we can continue on in the Test.”

Cyberknife. Gold Square’s Cyberknife appears to be headed in the right direction again. The son of Gun Runner threw in a clunker at the worst possible time when he languished in 18th in the Kentucky Derby. He rebounded to win the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) by a game nose on June 12 at Churchill Downs. He will face a tall task against the undefeated Jack Christopher in the July 23 Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park. Cox: “He ran a big number last time. He’s had some time, so hopefully he doesn’t regress off of it. His works have been very, very solid at Churchill.”

Mandaloun. The 2021 Kentucky Derby winner via Medina Spirit’s disqualification is not having the 4-year-old season that owner-breeder Juddmonte hoped for. He ran ninth in the Saudi Cup (G1) and returned from a layoff to finish fourth in the July 2 Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs. He was part of the work tab for the first time since the Matt Winn when he traveled four furlongs in 48.4 seconds on July 16 at Churchill. No spot has been selected for him yet. Cox: “He didn’t really take to the Saudi track. He’s not been frustrating. He’s been a very good horse for us. Hopefully, we can get him back in the win column in the next month or so.”

Shedaresthedevil. The bay 5-year-old daughter of Daredevil comes off a victory in the July 2 Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill, giving the former Kentucky Oaks victor wins in half of her 20 starts. The Aug. 6 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar and the Aug. 27 Personal Ensign (G1) are up for consideration. She would be defending her title in the former. It will be a matter of which timing better suits her. Cox: “The Clement L. Hirsch was a good race to her last year. It was a race that worked out well for her. We’ll see how that plays out in the next week or so.”

Arklow: How much does this 8-year-old son of Arch have left? He will begin to answer that question when he makes his season debut in the July 31 Bowling Green (G2). It will be his first race since he took fifth in the Oct. 9 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont.

In finishing first or second in 17 of 36 starts with nine wins, hard-knocking Arklow has earned more than $2.9 million. He can be dangerous off a layoff. He took the Louisville (G3) last season after being away for half a year. The Bowling Green is being used to ready Arklow for a race at Kentucky Downs. He has shown an affinity for that turf course, placing second in the Calumet Turf Cup Stakes (G2) last September. Cox: “Doing great. We’re running him off a layoff, just trying to get some fitness into him.”

Mo Strike. Look for this outfit to unveil promising 2-year-olds during the meet. One of them, Mo Strike, displayed his potential when he won the July 16 Sanford (G3) here with Florent Geroux in the irons. He should face a much stiffer test in the Sept. 5 Hopeful (G1).

Cox describes the son of Uncle Mo as “very intelligent” and was impressed by how quickly he adapted to Saratoga after shipping from Churchill Downs. He looks for Mo Strike to rank among the best members of his class if he continues to move forward.