Covfefe 'ready for the Breeders' Cup' off Dogwood Stakes score

LNJ Foxwoods’ brilliant filly Covfefe is on target for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint following her scintillating eight-length victory in Saturday’s $125,000 Dogwood at Churchill Downs.

"At the beginning of the year, the Test was always the goal,” trainer Brad Cox said. “After we accomplished that goal, we set our sights on the Breeders’ Cup and how to get there. We figured the Dogwood was the best place to get her ready since it is in our own backyard and we didn’t have to ship anywhere.

"I think she’s ready for the Breeders’ Cup after that.”

Covfefe smashed the Dogwood Stakes record in a final time of 1:20.51 – 2.51 seconds faster than LNJ Foxwoods’ 2015 winner Super Majesty, who stopped the teletimer in 1:23.02. The swift seven-furlong time was only .07 seconds off champion Groupie Doll’s 2012 track record of 1:20.44.

"We could have easily gotten the track record, but why push her when she was doing it so easily?” jockey Shaun Bridgmohan said. “As a jockey when you look over a horse mid-race who’s going :22 and :44, and she’s looking over to her competition like they’re nothing, you know the horse is special.”

Covfefe exited the Dogwood in good shape, Cox said, and will return to training in a few days.

In a post-race interview provided by the Kentucky HBPA, both Cox and Jaime Roth, principal of the LNJ Foxwoods, touched on the brilliance of their star filly. Roth called the Dogwood "the perfect prep."

"She is the best horse that LNJ has ever owned," Roth added. "We've had other Grade 1 winners, but she's special."