Trainer Brad Cox sent out his 2,000th career North American winner Saturday at Fair Grounds, saddling 1-2 favorite Bishops Bay to a three-quarters of a length debut victory over stablemate First Mission in Race 5.
“I want to thank the team, the owners, and the horses,” Cox said. “It's been a great run and it's been a long road. I'm glad to have two colts who showed up here and ran well, I'm proud of both. I think they have bright futures.”
A 3-year-old Uncle Mo colt, Bishops Bay is campaigned by Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Winners Win, Michael Caruso, and breeder WinStar Farm.
A 42-year-old native of Louisville, Cox closed to within three victories of the milestone entering Saturday. Beginning with Comparative in Race 2, then Merlazza in Race 4, the Cox barn quickly won with their first two entries on the card. Having two entries in Race 5, there was no doubt in the homestretch that Cox was about to hit 2,000–the only question was which horse would be the one to do it for him as his other entry First Mission headed Bishops Bay with a sixteenth of mile to go. With Florent Geroux aboard, the Bishops Bay battled back against his stablemate, beating him to the wire.
Steve Asmussen had two entries in Race 5 as well, and sitting at 9,999 career wins, he and Cox were in the paddock at Fair Grounds with the potential to saddle their milestone winner. After posting a win at both Sam Houston and Oaklawn earlier in the day, Asmussen was unable to score another.
“It's an amazing number that Steve is about to hit,” Cox said. “I have no shot of catching him. He works as hard as anybody. To do what we do every day, trying to develop horses, it's a tough game. To do it for as long as he has, as well as he has, it's amazing.”
Cox started working in racing under trainers Burk Kessinger, and Jimmy Baker. Later he became the assistant trainer under Dallas Stewart. Cox started his first horse in 2004, and has since gone on to win each leg of the Triple Crown and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) twice. He has racked up nine Breeders Cup victories, including the Classic with Knicks Go (2021) and the Distaff twice with Monomoy Girl (2018 and 2020).
“I knew we were getting close a couple of races back, and I'm glad to give it over with,” Cox said. “Honestly, I just wanted to get it over with.”
Later on the card, Cox would score a 13-1 upset with Angel of Empire in the Risen Star (G2), giving him four wins on the day.
The post Brad Cox Hits Career Milestone 2,000th Win At Fair Grounds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
