Brad Cox

Justice Julia (Medaglia d'Oro--Dreaming of Julia) would have been the sexier half of a commonly owned entry that was sent off as the 7-10 favorite in what became the first race of the final week of racing at Saratoga, but the half-sister to champion Malathaat (Curlin) was never truly involved, and entrymate Emery (f, 2, More Than Ready--Athena, by Street Sense) proved more than equal to the task, skipping clear in the final 150 yards to debut impressively. Away in midpack in a scratched-down field of five, Emery tracked from...

Ellis Park Racing & Gaming's summer season has come to a close with a substantial 22% gain in all-sources handle and 48% increase in prize money awarded. In total, more than $60.4 million was wagered at the 24-day Ellis Park meet, $11 million more than 2022. Along with the sizable handle increase, the connections who raced at Ellis Park were rewarded with more than $14.1 million in prize money, an increase of 49% from 2022. (includes funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund). "The racing season at Ellis Park has...

7th-Ellis, $70,000, Msw, 8-27, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.80, ft, 2 3/4 lengths. AWESOME ROAD (c, 2, Quality Road--Orate, by A.P. Indy) was bet down to even money and had plenty of early speed, racing between foes in a three-pronged battle for the lead. With the best closing kick of the trio, the $600,000 Keeneland September grad was left to contend only with Stronghold (Ghostzapper) into the lane and turned that rival back in the final sixteenth to score by 2 3/4 lengths. Chryso Alogo (Bolt d'Oro) checked in fourth while Loma...

6th-ELP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:18 p.m. A trio of colts make their much-anticipated debuts Monday beginning with Stonestreet homebred BENVOLIO (Tapit). Out of GI La Troienne S. winner Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper) who was purchased by Stonestreet for $1.35m out of the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale, the bay is a half to $1.8m yearling Vintage Print (Curlin). He'll face a pair of expensive yearlings including a stablemate in Army Officer (Not This Time), picked up for $475,000 out of last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale by Qatar Racing....

With the 76th renewal of Friday's GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga billed as a clash between division heavyweights Nest (Curlin) and Clairiere (Curlin), it was the other daughter in the field by Hill 'n' Dale's super sire Curlin who would prevail in a pillar-to-post mild upset. IDIOMATIC (f, 4, Curlin--Lockdown, by First Defence), a Juddmonte homebred trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, threw her name into the figurative hat, winning her third consecutive graded race and first Grade I. Last year's GI Kentucky Oaks winner Secret...

Neither wind nor water could stop her, and Roses for Debra (Liam's Map) streaked home at a rain-drenched Saratoga to take the Smart N Fancy S., securing her fourth win in a row in the process. Only once off the board in her career, the grey was last seen putting up a career-high Beyer of 99 en route to winning the GIII Caress S. over this course last month and had two victories over the lawn at Belmont and Pimlico since changing from the barn of Michelle Brafford to Christophe...

Alder (Hard Spun)'s first trip to the gate July 15 at Ellis Park resulted in him being declared a non-starter after he became tangled and unseated Gerardo Corrales just as the bell sounded. With Corrales back aboard, no such issues plagued this 2-year-old colt as he sparkled down the lane to win on debut at Ellis Park on Sunday afternoon. The bold effort earned him 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Off at 9-5 here, the Godolphin homebred settled midpack up the backstretch as a trio vied for the lead into the...

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:11.29, my, 1 1/2 lengths. COREY AND QUINN (f, 3, Uncle Mo--Youcan'tcatchme {Ch. Female Sprinter-Can, MGSW, $425,710}, by The Daddy) debuted as the 7-5 favorite here and after yielding the front up the backstretch to Spun Special (Hard Spun), the bay filly took over the lead around the far turn. With a sixteenth left, she found more to turn back a charge from La Girvina (Girvin) to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Out of an extended female family which includes GI Kentucky Oaks...

Trainer Brad Cox sent out a host of graded-stakes winners for workouts at Saratoga this weekend, including GI Coaching Club American Oaks winner Wet Paint (Blame), who is targeting Saturday's GI Alabama S. The Godolphin homebred posted her second work since her Oaks victory, covering five furlongs in 1:02.24 over the Oklahoma dirt training track in company with recent allowance winner and GSP Slip Mahoney. "1:02 and a super good work," said Cox. "She's been very steady and very good up here in the mornings. I like the way she...

NEW KENT, VA--Not far from the Colonial Downs racetrack in southeastern Virginia, a sign on the interstate reads, 'Welcome to America's Historic Triangle'. The trio of Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg provide a gateway into American history from a time when the British ruled the American colonies. And while it's been a long time since Great Britain had success in this part of the country, Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) got them back on the board with a win in the GI Arlington Million. In Virginia's first rendition of the 'Million',...

Cody's Wish (Curlin) will be heavily favored over five rivals to add another chapter to racing's feel-good story in Saturday's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga. The Godolphin homebred, winner of last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the stallion-making GI Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan H. at Belmont Park June 10, seeks his first career win beyond one mile in the nine-furlong Whitney, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. The 1-2 morning-line favorite, named after Cody Dorman, who was born with the...

West Will Power (Bernardini--Wild Promises, by Wild Event), last-out winner of the GI Stephen Foster S., has been retired from racing after suffering a soft tissue injury, trainer Brad Cox confirmed Tuesday. The news was first reported by Dave Grening of Daily Racing Form. A homebred for Gary and Mary West, West Will Power hit the board in 15 of 17 starts, with seven wins and earnings of $1,745,390. In addition to his victory in the July 1 Stephen Foster, the 6-year-old also won this year's GII New Orleans Classic...