Cox's He'smyhoneybadger sets a stakes record in Perryville win

He’smyhoneybadger rallied from seventh in a nine-horse field to collar favored Pipeline at the sixteenth pole and hold off Ram to win the $150,000 Perryville Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, He’smyhoneybadger covered seven furlongs on the fast main track in 1:23.75 to eclipse the stakes record of 1:24.38 established by Midnight Lute in 2006.

Boca Boy and Cool Quest dueled for the early lead through fractions of :22.16 and :44.97 with Pipeline tracking in third and He’smyhoneybadger running seventh. In the stretch, Pipeline took over at the eighth pole but He’smyhoneybadger, who had swung four wide at the top of the stretch, found clear running to surge to the front at the sixteenth pole and then deny Ram’s final surge.

He’smyhoneybadger is a Kentucky-bred son of Daredevil out of the Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Miss. With his first stakes victory, He’smyhoneybadger added $90,000 to his bankroll to increase his earnings to $321,824 with a record of 10-4-3-1.

He’smyhoneybadger returned $14.60. Ram, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, finished a neck in front of Pipeline who paid $3 to show under John Velazquez.

It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to Irish Unity in fourth with Pickin’ Time, Cool Quest, Runway Magic, Boca Boy and Soup and Sandwich following in order.