Covfefe back on the work tab, 'going the right direction'

Covfefe, having earned a pair of Eclipse Awards for a 2019 season that included five wins in six starts, is back to work with trainer Brad Cox, who’s reading the daughter of Into Mischief for her 4-year-old campaign.

In an interview with The Pressbox’s Gene McLean, Cox said Covfefe breezed a “nice, easy 3/8” in Saturday’s first drill back, timed in 38.60 seconds by Fair Grounds clockers.

“Everything’s going the right direction with her,” Cox told McLean.

The LNJ Foxwoods charge received a break after defeating elders in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Spring on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park. Other highlights to her sophomore campaign were graded victories in Saratoga’s Test (G1) and the Miss Preakness (G3), the latter a track-record performance for six furlongs at Pimlico in 1:07.70.

Cox said there’s “no real idea” yet of where Covfefe could get started.

“She’s responded well with what little we’ve done with her so far,” he said.

Presumably, Keeneland’s April 4 Madison (G1) for older female sprinters could be an eventual target, while Churchill Downs hosts the Humana Distaff (G1) on Kentucky Derby day.

Covfefe is 8: 6-0-1 with earnings of $1.1 million and was recently named Champion Female Sprinter and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2019.

Cox’s other leading older female, the 2018 3-year-old champion Monomoy Girl, is also back in training at Fair Grounds. He told McLean she should return to the work tab later this month or in early March.