Travers: Cox says Cyberknife is 'as good now as he's ever been'
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The connections of Grade 1 Travers contender Cyberknife believe he is following the path of his white-hot sire, Gun Runner, by displaying more and more talent with every start.
The winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1) rebounded from a disappointing 18th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby to eke out a nose victory against Howling Time in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. He followed that with a taut decision by a head against Taiba in the Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park.
He and regular rider Florent Geroux eclipsed the track record for 1 1/8 miles at Monmouth with a 1:46.24 clocking. Spend a Buck’s mark of 1:46.80 had stood since 1985.
“He’s a horse that we always thought and had an intent for him to get better after he got older. He’s definitely doing that,” said trainer Brad Cox. “We’re excited about giving him an opportunity at the big stage we have for 3-year-olds right now.”
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Cyberknife is named for the advanced radiation procedure owner Al Gold used to successfully treat prostate cancer. The chestnut colt has been as full of fight as his owner, allowing him to stand as the only two-time Grade 1 winner in the deep eight-horse field for the $1.25 million Travers on Saturday.
“His numbers are getting better each race. We feel he’s improving,” Gold said. “We’re looking forward to the race Saturday and one more step forward.”
The $400,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton’s Selected Yearlings Showcase was bred by Sarah and Ken Ramsey. He has swept five of nine starts with a pair of runner-up efforts for career earnings of $1,596,520. He has won all but two of six starts this year while banking $1,521,520.
Spendthrift Farm was sufficiently impressed by his body of work after the Haskell to acquire the breeding rights to him whenever his racing career ends. His value, of course, would spike if he can deliver at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles in the Travers.
A still-developing Gun Runner finished third in the mid-summer derby in 2016 before going on to be Horse of the Year the following season. Gun Runner rattled off five consecutive Grade 1 scores to close his career, which ended with an emphatic victory in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at the start of 2018.
Cyberknife drew the rail for the Travers. He is listed as the 7-2 second choice in the morning line. Epicenter, second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and the winner of the Jim Dandy (G2), the traditional Travers prep that comes a week after the July 23 Haskell (G1), is heavily favored at 7-5. The always-game Epicenter will leave from post 6 with Joel Rosario aboard for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
Cox has won the Eclipse Award as the leading trainer in North America each of the last two seasons. He thinks he has Cyberknife as prepared as he can be.
“He’s training really well. He’s had three good works over the main track. His last two works have been especially good,” he said. “I feel he’s as good now as he’s ever been.”
Cyberknife did not miss a beat in producing three works spaced one week apart. The series of drills opened with four furlongs in 49.96 seconds on Aug. 6. He picked it up with five-furlong works in 1:01.05 and then 1:00 on Aug. 20.
Although the Derby will always stand as a blemish on Cyberknife’s resume, Cox does not believe the result is as bad as it appears.
“He was too close to the pace. Florent did a good job not really asking him to finish up after going so fast. He knew at the quarter pole he was out of horse and he just kind of wrapped up on him and galloped him home,” Cox said. “That was the right thing to do. There is no difference finishing 12th or 18th at that point.
“He came out of it happy and healthy. He’s shown that he did. He’s had two big runs since. I’m super pleased with how he’s been all spring and summer.”
If Cyberknife can get the job done in the Travers, his travails in an odd Derby won by 80-1 Rich Strike, also a Travers starter, would become a distant memory. He would emerge as the clear leader of his class in the race for the Eclipse Award as the top 3-year-old.
“If we win the race, it would be three Grade 1 wins,” Gold noted. “I’m pretty sure we would win it then.”