Tag: brad cox

Denim and Pearls Dominates Beaumont in Graded Company Debut

In a tour de force befitting the excitement of opening weekend at Keeneland, Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief) all but ran off the screen en route to her career-first Graded victory in the GII Middleground Capital Beaumont S.

A winner by a nose at this venue on first asking Oct. 21, she parlayed that effort into a 3 1/2-length score at Churchill Downs in November against allowance optional claiming company. From there, her connections asked a bit more of their developing star when she moved to Oaklawn Park and tried two-turns, finishing second in the aptly named Years End S. on the last day of her juvenile season, and then making her 2024 bow Feb. 3 in a sloppy edition of the Martha Washington S. Cutting back to seven panels from 1 1/16-miles in that stakes try where she again played bridesmaid, it would be her time to shine here.

Content to watch after the jump as Vicountess (Lord Nelson) stepped up to set the early pace, Denim and Pearls traveled well from her spot in third as even-money betting choice Youalmosthadme (Oxbow) pressed that one along. Ranging closer as :22.99 and :46.41 splits sailed by, she was still well in hand entering the lane after inhaling a tiring leader and her stablemate with an eye-catching spurt. Kicking away, she was 9 1/4 lengths ahead of a clearly second-best Harbor Springs (Lookin At Lucky), who came into the race off a six-length maiden romp and stumbled coming out of the gate. Youalmosthadme held on for third despite it being her 2024 opener.

“It was a very good performance today. She was traveling well all the way around,” said Flavien Prat. “I didn't want to move too soon but she just did it on her own, so I thought to let her run from there. She did the rest. It was a great move by [trainer] Brad [Cox] to cut back in distance as well.”

When asked about it, Cox stated that the filly just didn't want to go that far and that her ownership group was content to let her do what she did best. “We were hoping she'd be a mile-and-an-eighth filly and we could march toward the [GI Kentucky Oaks], but [owner] Randy Gullat [of Red, White and Blue Racing] and the whole team are all about trying to do what's best for her and not make her do something she isn't capable of doing, and she rewarded them today.”

 

Pedigree Note
Most notably a full-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' Newgate, whose recent exploits include a gutsy victory in the GI Santa Anita H. and a ninth-place effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup, Denim and Pearls hails from a racey female family as dam Majestic Presence is herself a Graded-placed half-sister to GSW Victress (Include), a stakes-placed nine-time winner in Korea, and to the dam of GSW My Majestic Rose (Majestic Warrior). The dominating Beaumont victress is her fourth to the races, and second to pick up a victory at the black-type level. Majestic Presence has also produced a 2-year-old Adeera (Authentic) as well as a 2024 filly by Life Is Good.

Sire Into Mischief continued his successes at the upper levels of racing having had runners claim the GII Wood Memorial and the GI Ashland, just miss in the GI Santa Anita Derby, and enjoyed the crowning of two new 'TDN Rising Stars' over the weekend.

Sunday, Keeneland
MIDDLEGROUND CAPITAL BEAUMONT S.-GII, $395,063, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:26.54, ft.
1–DENIM AND PEARLS, 118, f, 3, by Into Mischief
  1st Dam: Majestic Presence (GSP-USA, MSP-Can, $227,896), by Majestic Warrior
  2nd Dam: Shining Victory, by Victory Gallop
  3rd Dam: Phoenix Sunshine, by Encino
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($500,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Red White and Blue Racing LLC; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $244,900. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $457,435. *Full to Newgate, GISW, $535,775. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Harbor Springs, 118, f, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Northern Michigan, by Broken Vow. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Donamire Farm (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley. $79,000.
3–Youalmosthadme, 118, f, 3, Oxbow–Good Gator, by Good and Tough. ($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Resolute Racing; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad Cox. $39,500.
Margins: 9 1/4, 3, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.79, 8.71, 1.07.
Also Ran: Chi Chi, Tipsy Tammy, Vicountess.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Into Mischief’s Discreet Mischief Posts ‘TDN Rising Star’ Performance at Second Asking

Discreet Mischief (c, 3, Into Mischief–Brushwork, by Discreet Cat), a very solid second sprinting on debut with an 89 Beyer Speed Figure behind the highly regarded Drip (Good Magic) over a sloppy track at Fair Grounds Feb. 17, delivered a 'TDN Rising Star' performance for trainer Brad Cox to graduate impressively at second asking at Keeneland Saturday.

The 4-5 favorite jumped well and secured a perfect spot pressing in an outside second through fractions of :22.47 and :45.54. He took over on the turn for home, was in complete control as they straightened and ran up the score in the stretch to win for fun by 8 1/4 lengths. Timeout (Curlin) was second.

Discreet Mischief, a homebred for Oussama Aboughazale's Sumaya U.S. Stable, becomes the 44th 'TDN Rising Star' for the mighty Into Mischief. The unraced Darley-bred Brushwork, a daughter of MGISW Manistique (Unbridled), is also responsible for Kitten's Cat (Kitten's Joy), MSW & MGSP, $573,545; an Authentic colt of 2022 ($475,000 RNA KEESEP); and a Gun Runner colt of 2023. Brushwork brought $150,000 from International Equities Holding in foal to Kitten's Joy at the 2017 Keeneland January sale.

3rd-Keeneland, $99,588, Msw, 4-6, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.27, ft, 8 1/4 lengths.
DISCREET MISCHIEF, c, 3, Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Brushwork, by Discreet Cat
                2nd Dam: Manistique, by Unbridled
                3rd Dam: Astaire Step, by Nureyev
Sales history: $375,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $69,575. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Sumaya U.S. Stable; B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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Into Mischief’s Almostgone Rocket Shoots to ‘Rising Star’ status on debut

Almostgone Rocket (f, 3, Into Mischief–Bound, by Jump Start) made it look easy on her debut at Oaklawn Park to the tune of 'TDN Rising Star' honors for the effort.

Breaking well and keen to press the issue early, she took over at the half after :22.25 and :46.45 splits, and had opened up a notable margin coming into the lane. With no one coming close, she strolled home the easiest of winners by 11 3/4 lengths. Early leader 24-1 longshot Delacina (Dominus) was clearly second best.

Out of multiple stakes-winner Bound (Jump Start), the victress is Into Mischief's 43rd runner to get the nod from the TDN, and the second winner from as many to race for tht broodmare. Their dam has also produced a 2-year-old Big Air (Vekoma) as well as a yearling colt by Vino Rosso. She is carrying a ful-sibling to Almostgone Rocket for 2024.

In addition to Bound exploits on the track, this is the family of her stakes-winning sisters Lune Rouge (Malibu Moon) and Road to Mandalay (Sea of Secrets), who herself produced SW La Concerto (Aptitude) and SP Game Token (Gold Token). Bound also claims GSP Justice for Auston (Lit de Justice) as a half-brother as well as the dam of GSW Battle Bling (Vancouver {Aus}).

 

8th-Oaklawn, $115,000, Msw, 4-5, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.74, ft, 11 3/4 lengths.
ALMOSTGONE ROCKET, f, 3, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Bound {MSW, $419,174}, by Jump Start
                2nd Dam: China Sky, by Skywalker
                3rd Dam: Bolchina, by Bolger
Sales history: $250,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000. O-Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. and Ten Strike Racing; B-Malibu Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Led by Loaded Blue Grass, Trio of Derby Preps Highlight Saturday’s Graded Stakes Lineup

The GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland, featuring a highly anticipated rematch between Dornoch (Good Magic) and 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), is one of three GI Kentucky Derby prep races on tap on a fantastic day of racing Saturday.

Dornoch dug back gamely to defeat Sierra Leone in a heart-stopping renewal of the GII Remsen S. at a rain-soaked Aqueduct Dec. 2, then took care of business in a scratched-down GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Mar. 2. Sierra Leone, meanwhile, returned with an excellent come-from-behind victory over a sloppy surface at Fair Grounds in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 17.

The Blue Grass field of 11 also includes the Brad Cox-trained duo of GIII Gotham S. Mar. 2 runner-up Just a Touch (Justify) and John Battaglia Memorial S. Mar. 2 winner Encino (Nyquist).

“Just at Touch is a very talented horse,” Cox said. “He's shown talent from day one. He was a little late to get to the races, but it was by design. (Dornoch and Sierra Leone) got to the races a little bit earlier, so obviously they have more seasoning. I think this horse is one of our better 3-year-olds. I'm excited against running against these colts. It's a Grade I with very talented horses. It looks to be one of the better Derby preps to date.”

A pair of unbeatens–'TDN Rising Star' Deterministic (Liam's Map) and Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso)–lead a field of 13 set for the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct.

Deterministic, an eye-catching debut winner going seven furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 12, showed no signs of rust resurfacing from the bench with an impressive victory in the slop over the aforementioned Just a Touch in the one-turn mile Gotham. Tuscan Sky makes his stakes debut after defeating the talented Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) in an optional claimer on the Risen Star program. Parx invader Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion) returns to the Big Apple after upsetting the GIII Withers S. over track and trip Feb. 3.

“The Gotham was a very good race and a good field over a wet track–he handled the whole thing well,” trainer Christophe Clement said of the Wood Memorial 7-5 morning-line favorite Deterministic. “It will be interesting to see him going two turns. We'll just go one step at a time. You never know until you try, but his style of racing and the way he trains makes you believe he should stay.”

A pair of last out graded winners–Imagination (Into Mischief) and Stronghold (Ghostzapper)–share top billing in the GI Santa Anita Derby. Imagination posted a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer Bob Baffert while gamely annexing the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 3. Stronghold, second in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 19 and GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 16, broke through with a win in the GIII Sunland Park Derby Feb. 18. Both colts have finished no worse than second in five career starts.

The Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial all offer qualifying points to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10) toward the GI Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs has barred Baffert's trainees from participating in this year's Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks stemming in part from a well-documented medication positive found after Medina Spirit won the 2021 Derby.

There are also a pair of Kentucky Oaks preps on tap at Aqueduct at Santa Anita Saturday.

'TDN Rising Star' Kinza (Carpe Diem), winner of the GIII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 10 and GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 9, will put her perfect record on the line for Baffert in the GII Santa Anita Oaks. The field of five also includes Kopion (Omaha Beach), who reported home second-best behind Kinza last time in the Las Virgenes.

Life Talk (Gun Runner) will look to get back on track in the GIII Gazelle S. at the Big A. The GII Demoiselle S. heroine was a disappointing sixth as the heavy favorite in Tampa's Suncoast S. Feb. 10. Maiden of seven starts Where's My Ring (Twirling Candy) makes the trip from Southern California for the Gazelle following a longshot second in the Santa Ysabel.

Saturday's graded stakes also include a fantastic renewal of the GI Resolute Racing Madison S. The field of eight is led by standouts Alva Starr (Lord Nelson), Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance) and Vahva (Gun Runner). Keeneland's stacked Blue Grass program also features the GII Appalachian S., GII Shakertown S. and GIII Commonwealth S., respectively.

Saturday's graded action is rounded out by the GII Carter H. and GIII Distaff S. at Aqueduct and the GIII Monrovia S. at Santa Anita.

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