brad cox | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tawny Port Whistles Home at Thistle

Saturday's GIII Ohio Derby–the lone graded event carded annually in the Buckeye State–attracted three runners who made their last start on the first Saturday in May beneath the Twin Spires in neighboring Kentucky. The trio, sent off the first, second and fourth wagering choices in the $500,000 test, would go on to combine for a trifecta that returned a chalky 14-1, as Peachtree Stable's 13-10 favorite Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), a respectable seventh in the Derby, gathered up 3-2 second-elect White Abarrio (Race Day)–16th at Churchill–in the waning stages to take it by a length. Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway), who outran odds of nearly 79-1 to be 11th in the Run for the Roses, boxed on gamely for third in his first run for the Ken McPeek barn.

Tawny Port broke without incident and was happy enough to sit back in the latter half of the field as longshot Pineapple Man (Gormley) and Classic Causeway led from White Abarrio, who appeared to be falling into yet another perfect trip. Classic Causeway, who displayed a bit of a rating gear, re-engaged and poked his head in front with about five furlongs to travel and galloped them along down the backstretch, as the chief protagonists bided their time a few lengths in arrears. White Abarrio was the first to come after the front-runner at the three-eighths marker and Tawny Port was also finding his best stride while forced to cover a bit of ground on the turn. White Abarrio poked his gray snout in front between rivals at the top of the lane, but Tawny Port was doing slightly the better work to the outside and grinded out the victory.

Two-for-two over the Turfway synthetic to start his career, Tawny Port was an even fifth behind Epicenter (Not This Time) in the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 19 before returning to the Florence oval to complete the exacta underneath Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) in the Apr. 2 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks. Backing up on just two weeks' rest in an attempt to pick up the necessary points for a Kentucky Derby bid, the dark bay scored a one-length success in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. at Keeneland. Drawn 18 of 20 in the Derby and sent off at 80.50-1–30 cents lower than the victorious Rich Strike (Keen Ice)–Tawny Port raced in the last third of the field for the opening three-quarters of a mile, came six wide for the drive and was beaten just under five lengths.

Pedigree Notes:

It has been a remarkable 2022 posthumously for Pioneerof the Nile, who passed away suddenly just over three years ago. Of course the sire of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, Pioneerof the Nile has been represented by no fewer than nine black-type winners this season, including recent GI Acorn S. heroine Matareya, GII Summertime Oaks/GII Santa Ynez S. victress Under the Stars, GII TwinSpires Turf Sprint hero Arrest Me Red and Canoodling, winner of the GIII Megahertz S. and GIII Wilshire S. He is the sire of an additional 10 black-type performers this season alone.

Tawny Port is one of three winners from four to the races for his talented dam, a half-sister to Korean-based stakes winner and millionaire Clean Up Joy (Purge). Third dam Trust Greta bred eight winners from as many starters, including six-time GSW Surf Cat (Sir Cat) and GSW Rosie O'Greta (Fight Over). Livi Makenzie is the dam of a yearling filly by Always Dreaming from the same Empire Maker sire line as Tawny Port and foaled a colt by Global Campaign this past Apr. 25.

Saturday, Thistledown
OHIO DERBY-GIII, $500,000, Thistledown, 6-25, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.46, ft.
1–TAWNY PORT, 126, c, 3, by Pioneerof the Nile
1st Dam: Livi Makenzie (SW & MGSP, $354,069), by Macho Uno
2nd Dam: Greta's Joy, by Joyeux Danseur
3rd Dam: Trust Greta, by Centrust
($430,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Peachtree Stable; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $300,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-0, $727,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–White Abarrio, 126, c, 3, Race Day–Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief. ($7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-C2 Racing Stable LLC & La Milagrosa Stable, LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. $100,000.
3–Classic Causeway, 126, c, 3, Giant's Causeway–Private World, by Thunder Gulch. O-Kentucky West Racing LLC & Clarke M. Cooper; B-Kentucky West Racing LLC & Clarke M. Cooper Family Living Trust (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $50,000.
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 5. Odds: 1.30, 1.50, 6.30.
Also Ran: Barese, Droppin G's, Ethereal Road, Pineapple Man. Scratched: Brigadier General. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Tawny Port Whistles Home at Thistle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Grade I Winners Prep For Foster

A week ahead of their expected clash in the $750,000 GII Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs, 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and fellow Grade I winner Americanrevolution (Constitution) each breezed five furlongs beneath the Twin Spires Saturday morning.

The adjudicated winner of the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby, Mandaloun hit the track at 5:30 a.m. and covered the five furlongs while working on his own in 1:00.80 under the watchful eye of trainer Brad Cox. His previous moves had come in the company of his GIII Oaklawn Mile-winning stablemate Fulsome (Into Mischief). Mandaloun was an impressive winner of the GIII Louisiana S. in his first start of the season and was last seen finishing a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 26.

“We thought about running in the [GIII] Salvator Mile [at Monmouth Park June 18], but it didn't make sense to ship him across the country with the hot weather when we can run out of our own stall at Churchill,” Cox said. “Once we got him back to the barn after the Saudi Cup, he's really been doing well at Churchill and we've been very pleased with his progress from that race to run him in a race like the Stephen Foster.”

Americanrevolution breezed in the company of last-out Blame S. winner Dynamic One (Union Rags) and went the distance in 1:00.20 before galloping out six panels in 1:13. The CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm runner won last year's GI Cigar Mile H. and was to have returned in the state-bred restricted Commentator S. at Belmont late last month, but was re-routed for the Blame when the race did not go. Americanrevolution was only fourth as the 11-10 favorite in the Blame, but trainer Todd Pletcher is taking a glass-half-full approach.

“It was maybe a better race than it looks on paper,” Pletcher said. “He was pretty wide on both turns–figure-wise, it came back solid. I think he took all the worst of it there off the layoff and when his schedule was adjusted late. He should be ready to move forward.”

Title Ready (More Than Ready), third to the Foster-bound Olympiad (Speightstown) in the May 6 GII Alysheba S. at Churchill, went a half-mile in :49.40 for trainer Dallas Stewart.

The Foster is a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Cyberknife Works Toward Haskell…

Gold Square LLC's Cyberknife (Gun Runner), who most recently nosed out Howling Time (Not This Time) in the GIII Matt Winn S. June 12, returned to the worktab Saturday morning with a half-mile breeze that was timed in :48.80 (42/125). The GI Arkansas Derby hero is likely to make his next appearance in the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park July 23.

“He's a Grade I winner already and I think a race like the Haskell could help him increase his stallion value,” said Cox, who won last year's Haskell with the promoted Mandaloun. “He gutted out a victory in the Matt Winn last time and showed a lot of determination to get to the wire from off the pace. It'll be a tough race in the Haskell, but we're confident with him going up against Grade I-caliber horses.”

Cyberknife's owner Al Gold is a native of New Jersey.

The post Grade I Winners Prep For Foster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pricey ‘Mo’ Colt Gets it Done at First Asking

4th-Churchill Downs, $120,955, Msw, 6-19, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:04.77, ft, 3/4 length.
MO STRIKE (c, 2, Uncle Mo–Featherbed {SW & GISP, $227,904}, by Smart Strike), a $325,000 OBS April acquisition off a :10 flat breeze, was installed the public's tepid 5-2 pick Sunday among a strong-looking bunch. Off alertly from the far outside, the bay sat perched three deep early and sidled up to the pacesetter after a :22.82 opening quarter. He took a narrow lead into a :46.35 half, and fended off second timer Summonyourcourage (Practical Joke) to prevail by 3/4 of a length. The winner is half to Dynamic Impact (Tiznow), GSW, $421,006, a yearling colt by Vino Rosso and a filly foal by McKinzie. He hails from the family of Grade I winners Trumpet's Blare and Albert the Great. Sales history: $90,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $325,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,460. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Nasser Bin Omairah; B-Blue Heaven Farm & Ashford Stud (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

The post Pricey ‘Mo’ Colt Gets it Done at First Asking appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Brad Cox Takes Back-to-Back TVG.com Pegasus S. Wins with Home Brew

One year removed from winning this race with his GISW Mandaloun (Into Mischief) before taking the GI TVG.com Haskell S., Brad Cox returned to the Jersey Shore with Home Brew. Minus one bad run when he caught a sloppy track for Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Jan. 1, the son of Street Sense boasted a nearly unblemished record, with his only other loss a second Nov. 14 in his first start for Cox at Churchill Downs. After a three-month absence following the Smarty Jones, Home Brew returned to take the Apr. 23 Oaklawn S. and post a career-high 84 Beyer Speed Figure. The 3-2 second choice for Saturday's contest, Home Brew saved ground along the inside in third as Cyberviking led the field through an opening quarter in :23.70. Maneuvered out around the far turn, he rallied three wide at the quarter-pole and inhaled the early leaders, pulling away in the final sixteenth to win by an easy 6 1/4 lengths.

“He's not a real big horse and I think we've just kind of taken our time with him and let him mature and I think that has helped a lot,” said assistant trainer Blake Cox. As for whether or not Home Brew could contest the July 23 Haskell along with stablemate Cyberknife (Gun Runner), Cox said: “I'm not sure about that. We have to see where we are. We've had good luck in the Haskell so we'll see.”

Home Brew has a 2-year-old full-brother named Day Trade who is his dam's last reported foal.

TVG.COM PEGASUS S., $152,500, Monmouth, 6-18, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.20, ft.
1–HOME BREW, 122, c, 3, by Street Sense
                1st Dam: Omnitap, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Classic Olympio, by Olympio
                3rd Dam: Palm Beach Dewey, by Talc
O-Gary and Mary West; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox; J-Paco Lopez. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-1-0,
$293,625. *Full to Air Strike, GSW, $338,810.
2–Electability, 116, g, 3, Quality Road–Spindle, by Hard Spun.
($300,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Purple
H Bloodstock (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
3–Cyberviking, 118, c, 3, The Big Beast–Wildcat Affair, by
Wildcat Heir. ($12,000 Ylg '20 OBSWIN). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Joker Racing LLC; B-Wayne McFarland (FL); T-Jorge Delgado.
$15,000.
Margins: 6 1/4, NK, 10 3/4. Odds: 1.50, 1.30, 8.70.
Also Ran: Mr Jefferson, Cooke Creek, Jamie Dreams, King of Hollywood. Scratched: Dash Attack, Noneedtoworry.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Brad Cox Takes Back-to-Back TVG.com Pegasus S. Wins with Home Brew appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post