Is Coup de Grace a Kentucky Derby 2014 Contender?

Trainer Chad Brown had his first Kentucky Derby starter last May with Fox Hill Farms’ Normandy Invasion, a son of Tapit who made a bold move at the top of the stretch en route to a fourth-place finish. Brown and Fox Hill have another Tapit colt, Coup de Grace, that could take them back to Louisville in 2014.

 

The chestnut colt, purchased for $300,000 as a yearling, scored as the 1-2 chalk in his career opener at Aqueduct on November 9 and earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure after covering six panels in 1:10. He will attempt a one-turn mile when he faces a maximum of nine rivals in Sunday’s sixth race at Gulfstream Park.

 

“I’m hoping he can build off of that debut and effectively stretch out to the mile distance, and just keep progressing like he has all fall for us,” Brown remarked. “I give all of the first-time starters the benefit of the doubt when I’m watching them. I thought he handled everything quite well overall. He seems to be training well since he’s arrived here in Florida.”

 

A grandson of champion older mare Jewel Princess, Coup de Grace has recorded three morning drills at Palm Meadows in the last month. He covered a half-mile in :48 1/5 last Sunday. 

 

The juvenile opened up by daylight in his first start before digging in late to deny Unknown Road, a well-bred son of Bernardini trained by Mike Hushion, by three-quarters of a length. That lone start was enough to have him as an individual betting interest in the first Future Wager Pool for the Kentucky Derby. He opened at 50-1 in the wagering and closed at 48-1.

 

Brown is hopeful that Coup de Grace will build on his early promise.

 

“He’s by a good stallion and the owner, Mr. Rick Porter, has a history of getting horses to the Derby—live horses, with a real chance in the race,” Brown explained. “I think that, given who owns him, who he’s by and how he ran first time, I’m not surprised [that he was in the Derby pool].

 

“He does have a long way to go,” Brown added. “He has to effectively stretch out and keep progressing. It seems like a deep group of 2-year-old colts this year, so we’ll just see how he does and keep our fingers crossed.”