See trainer Brad Cox's 2021 plans for his older standouts
Brad Cox had a very strong 2020, good enough to be in the running for trainer of the year.
He brought Monomoy Girl back from an 18-month layoff to win four straight, including the La Troienne (G1) and her second Breeders’ Cup Distaff. He won three other Breeders’ Cup races: the Juvenile with Essential Quality, the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Aunt Pearl and the Dirt Mile with Knicks Go. Plus he got his second Kentucky Oaks score with Shedaresthedevil.
“It’s been a fantastic year, given some of the hurdles we had to jump with the COVID and the adjustment in the racing schedule,” Cox said. “So we’re proud of what we were able to accomplish, and we’re hoping we can build off of it and even have a better 2021.”
To see how this year might shape up, Cox spoke with HRN this week for a rundown of the older stars in his stable. (See the status of his 3-year-olds in this report posted Wednesday.)
Monomoy Girl — At the top of the list is the champion that Spendthrift Farm bought for $9.5 million and returned to Cox for her 6-year-old season.
“Monomoy Girl had her first half-mile this week,” Cox said. “That was Sunday. And we’re targeting the Bayakoa at Oaklawn with her for her comeback race. She’s really doing well, she really came out of the Breeders’ Cup in good order and is starting to get some fitness back. I never took her out of training, but just starting to get her back on the work tab. She’s moving forward nicely.”
The $250,000 Bayakoa (G3), at 1 1/16 miles, is set for Feb. 15.
Knicks Go – The 5-year-old ended 2020 by setting a Keeneland track record in an allowance optional claiming race, then scoring another authoritative win a month later in the Dirt Mile.
Cox told Fair Grounds' publicity team he is "pretty sure" Knicks Go will make his next start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park. If Cox instead chooses to keep the son of Paynter in New Orleans, Fair Grounds hosts the $125,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) on Jan. 16 at 1 1/16 miles.
“I told the owners I could go either way," Cox said, "and they thought maybe we’ll wait one more week and give it a shot there and see how it goes."
From there, Knicks Go could take on another nine-furlong, multi-million-dollar showcase a month later in the $20 million Saudi Cup.
"We’ll get the first one out of the way and then go from there," Cox said. "I don’t think further distances will be an issue for him at all. He’s doing well, he’s a Grade 1 race horse, and that work (at Fair Grounds on Saturday), three-quarters in 1:13, that’s fantastic and is moving on that race track.”
Wells Bayou — The 4-year-old’s last appearance was in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) last May. He started working in October after a five-month break.
“He is ready to run,” Cox said. “We’re going to look at the Louisiana at the Fair Grounds or the Fifth Season at Oaklawn. He’s currently stabled at Oaklawn, but we’re going to see how both races come up. Probably leaning a little bit more toward the Fifth Season right now.”
The $125,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles is next Saturday, and the $150,000 Fifth Season at one mile is Jan. 23.
Shared Sense — The 4-year-old had eight starts in 2020, last finishing third in the Discovery Stakes (G3) on Nov. 28 and has had no works since.
“Shared Sense after running third in the Discovery was given a break,” Cox said. “No issues, just had had a long year and felt he deserves some time, and just going to give him 60 days of R&R in Lexington. We put him away right after that race, so he’s going to kind of work his way back from there.”
Shedaresthedevil — The 2020 Kentucky Oaks winner last raced at Keeneland in the Spinster Stakes (G1), finishing fourth Oct. 4, and has had no works since.
“She’s still at the farm, she’s back under tack,” Cox said. “She’ll be shipping south in the next probably week or so. We just gave her time off after the Spinster. Once again another one that just had had a long year. We did not want to pursue the Breeders’ Cup, and we thought it was a great time to give her time to start getting ready for the 2021 season.”
Bonny South — This 4-year-old raced eight six times in 2020, finishing with a runner-up effort in the Falls City (G2) on Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.
“She received time as well. She’s at Juddmonte Farm, getting some R&R as well. She had a long year, never missed a beat, was in training all year. She was given a break after the Falls City.”
Cox expects she will return to training in a month or so.
Owendale — This 5-year-old was winless in five starts after opening the year at Churchill Downs with a victory in the Blame Stakes. Last out, he was third in the Clark (G1) on Nov. 27.
“Owendale’s at Oaklawn training, and right now we’re targeting the Razorback at Oaklawn. It’s mid-February as well, and he’s doing well.”
The $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles runs Feb. 13.
Warrior's Charge — The 6-year-old opened the year with a win in the Razorback and finished it with an eighth-place finish in the Ack Ack (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 26.
“Warrior’s Charge was given a break after the Ack Ack at Ocala at Paul Sharp’s (farm in Ocala, Fla.). He is due to come back to us within the week. As far as racing I don’t know, but he’s ready to come back. He’ll ship to New Orleans."
Arklow — After winning the Kentucky Turf Cup (G3) in September, the 7-year-old finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and then won the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) on Nov. 27.
“He was shipped to Ocala after the Hollywood Turf Cup for a freshening. He’s at Kinsman Farm; he was there a couple winters ago as well. That’s where we decided to brush him up. He’ll hopefully be back in the first part of March.”
Factor This — The 6-year-old won 5 of 9 starts this year and finished eighth in the Fort Lauderdale (G3) in his last out on Dec. 12.
“Factor This is at Palm Meadows training right now. Just kind of freshening him up a little bit. He is training, and we are going to look at some stakes at Gulfstream and Fair Grounds in February for him.”
‘Fantastic weekends’
Reflecting on 2020, Cox said “obviously, we had a couple fantastic weekends” in the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup.
“I felt we had a very strong hand going into the Breeders’ Cup, and it played out really well. Out of our four victories none of them were really surprises. Three of them were favored, and one I think was second choice. So we felt we were going to have a big weekend, and it’s just a testament to our staff and our team that we have a place to execute, and obviously the horses as well.
“We’re very blessed to have some very nice stock, and they showed up and ran big races throughout the year, not just Breeders’ Cup and Kentucky Oaks weekend. We’re very fortunate to have great clientele and some very good horses.”
But does the new success bring added pressure?
“It’s hard to say,” Cox said. “I don’t really feel like it does. I feel like it just kind of shows the racing world that we’re able to play at the top end and be able to campaign a horse throughout the year and have it peak, whether it’s Kentucky Oaks or Kentucky Derby weekend, Breeders’ Cup.”
And, he noted, it’s not like his operation is on cruise control.
“We’re always kind of learning as well,” Cox said. “Each horse is different, and we take a lot of pride in what we do. We feel like we’ve really stepped up the last few years with our young horses, between (2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner) British Idiom and Essential Quality and Aunt Pearl.
“Once again, very fortunate to have some nice stock and given the opportunity with some good horses — and developing them. That’s where our team comes into play as far as the development of the young horses.”
The Louisville native’s career has improved steadily since he got his first win at Turfway Park in 2004, one of three starts that year.
For 2020, his record was 903: 216-173-104 with earnings of $18.98 million, second only to Steve Asmussen in purses.
How has Cox handled such rapid growth?
“I guess when you do it every day and go over them every day, you just kind of get a feel for it,” he said. “It’s just a gradual process. Obviously, it wasn’t always this big. It’s fun, I enjoy it. It’s a passion, and I love what I do. It’s natural, I guess.”