Cox talks Knicks Go's Texas target, Pimlico runners and more

The reigning Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile hero is targeting another one-mile stakes for his next start, but it will come in Texas rather than New York.

Knicks Go is pointing to the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile, trainer Brad Cox said Thursday on a National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference. That race runs at Lone Star on May 31, less than a week before Belmont Park hosts the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on the Belmont Stakes card.

Cox noted the Steve Sexton Mile’s two-turn format as a reason to target that event. By contrast, Belmont’s Metropolitan is a one-turn mile.

“We feel that he’s better around two turns,” Cox said of Knicks Go, a 5-year-old son of Paynter.

Since moving to Cox’s barn for the 2020 season, Knicks Go has four wins out of five starts, including last November’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and this January’s Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). All four of those victories came at two turns.

Knicks Go’s only defeat under Cox came in his last start, February’s Saudi Cup. He finished fourth at King Abdulaziz Racecourse running on a one-turn, 1 1/8-mile configuration.

Since returning from Saudi Arabia, Knicks Go resumed training last month at Churchill Downs. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02 Friday under the Twin Spires during his most recent work.

Cox called the Steve Sexton Mile “a great opportunity to get him started back post-Middle East.”

“Once again, you’re hopeful they can come back and perform after that long trip to the other side of the world,” said Cox, the 2020 Eclipse Award winner for outstanding trainer. “He has trained extremely well since. We’re excited about where we are with him. Hopefully we can get him back to winning ways in the afternoon.”

Cox points Travel Column to Acorn Stakes

Travel Column, who finished fifth Friday in Churchill Downs’ Kentucky Oaks, will turn the page toward another Grade 1 target.

Cox said the 3-year-old Frosted filly, twice a Grade 2 winner, will point to the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) on June 5 at Belmont Park. The one-turn mile for 3-year-old fillies is one of eight Grade 1 events on the 2021 Belmont Stakes card.

Travel Column was sent off in the Kentucky Oaks at 7-2 odds and set the early pace under jockey Florent Geroux. But she gave way in the stretch and came home 5 1/2 lengths behind winning filly Malathaat.

“If all is well, we’ll run her back in five weeks,” Cox said.

The $500,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) on the Belmont card is an option for both Monomoy Girl and Shedaresthedevil. The former was a tough second last month at Oaklawn Park in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), while the latter was victorious Friday at Churchill in the La Troienne Stakes (G1).

Cox said Friday after the La Troienne that he hoped to keep Monomoy Girl and Shedaresthedevil on separate paths toward November’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff but that they could eventually tangle.

“If they happen to meet up and there’s a Grade 1 out there that they both deserve the right to run in, it’ll happen,” Cox said last week.

Cox names Preakness weekend probables

Cox’s barn will not be represented May 15 in the 2021 Preakness Stakes.

The trainer confirmed Thursday that Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher Essential Quality would bypass the Preakness, with August’s Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga the colt’s goal. He added that Derby runner-up Mandaloun and stablemate Caddo River also will not travel to Pimlico.

While Cox will not boast a Preakness starter, other runners in his stable are targeting that weekend’s events.

Adventuring, winner of Turfway Park’s Bourbonette Oaks on March 27, is probable for the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on May 14.

“She’s very well-bred, Pioneerof the Nile out of Questing, a world-class mare,” Cox said of the 3-year-old filly. “We’re hopeful she’ll be able to handle the mile and an eighth. It certainly appears that she can.”

Getridofwhatailesu, fourth last out in the Apple Blossom, and Dreamalildreamofu, winner of Turfway’s Latonia Stakes, are both targeting the Allaire duPont Distaff Stakes (G3). That race for fillies and mares goes 1 1/8 miles May 14.

Also on May 14, Cox will point Inject for the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) going six furlongs. She won a Keeneland allowance race last month in her last start.

Cox has graded stakes winners Night Ops, Owendale and Warrior’s Charge all nominated for the $250,000 Pimlico Special (G3). He said he is not sure any of them will start May 14 in the historic 1 3/16-mile race.

T.D. Dance, a last-out Fair Grounds allowance winner, will target the $100,000 James W. Murphy Stakes for 3-year-olds going one mile over the Pimlico turf May 15.

Cox also plans to start French Empire, winner of four straight allowance events, May 15 in the $100,000 Skipat Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs.