brad cox | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cox Suspended 10 Days for Bute Overage in ’21 Foster S.

Trainer Brad Cox has been suspended 10 days and fined $500 by the Churchill Downs stewards for a phenylbutazone overage detected in the runner-up of the 2021 GII Stephen Foster S.

According to a ruling dated May 15 and posted to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) website Tuesday, the Class C positive was present in the post-race testing of MGSW Warrior's Charge (Munnings) at a level of 2.51 micrograms per milliliter of blood when he ran second at 7-1 in last year's edition of the Foster.

Cox's suspension is to run May 23-June 1. Warrior's Charge has been disqualified and the purse money is to be redistributed.

TDN phoned Cox to get his side of the story and to ask whether he'd be appealing. He responded via text message.

“We were completely shocked with these lab results,” Cox wrote. “Due to the fact that this medication was administered within the strict guidelines that are set in place. Having said that, while we disagree with the results, I have to own it and accept responsibility. Moving forward, I am committed to industry leading protocols which hopefully prevent this from happening again.”

Asked what arrangements, if any, are in the works for transferring his horses during his suspension, Cox wrote, “No transfers at this time.”

Phenylbutazone, also called Bute, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Kentucky's racing rules permit it on race day in concentrations at or less than three-tenths (0.3) micrograms per milliliter.
According to the ruling, Cox waived his right to a formal stewards' hearing, as did the horse's owners, Marshall Gramm and Sol Kumin.

The KHRC classifies drugs on an A (most severe) to D (least severe) scale.

Both the owner and trainer penalties are in line with Kentucky's recommended sanctioning guidelines for a Class C first offense, which call for up to a 10-day suspension (absent mitigating circumstances) for trainers and the disqualification and purse forfeiture for the owners.

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LNJ Foxwoods Re-Focuses Stable

The Roth family's LNJ Foxwoods announced plans to move its Southern California-based horses east and re-focus its racing stable on the East Coast, Canada and Kentucky circuits. A Sunday afternoon tweet from Jaime Roth read, “LNJ Foxwoods has made the difficult decision to take a break from having horses stabled year-round in Southern California. With our family based in New York and one of our advisors, Alex Solis, II of Solis/Litt, having relocated to Lexington, we would like to focus on the East Coast, Canada and Kentucky circuits at this time. Our horses in training in Southern California will be moved east to continue their careers under the care of Josie Carroll, Brad Cox, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher, and Brendan Walsh.”

Roth continued, “We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Southern California and celebrated many milestones there, including winning the GI Breeders' Cup F&M Sprint with Covfefe at Santa Anita. In particular, we would like to thank Richard Mandella and his team for their tireless work and dedication to our horses and all those in his care. Richard has done a terrific job for our stable and we have enjoyed so much success together.”

In the same tweet, Roth announced the retirement of the family's multiple graded stakes winner United (Giant's Causeway). Trained by Mandella, the 7-year-old gelding won the 2020 and 2021 renewals of the GII John Henry Turf Championship S., as well as the 2021 GII Eddie Read S. He was second in the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Turf. On the board in 15 of 22 starts, United won 10 times and earned $1,813,549.

“He will remain a part of the LNJ family and is being retired as our riding horse in Kentucky, where we hope he will enjoy his second career just as much as his first,” Roth tweeted.LNJ

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Mandaloun Back on Work Tab

Juddmonte Farms' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) turned in his second work since a ninth-place finish in the Feb. 28 G1 Saudi Cup when going four furlongs in :49.20 (19/50) at Churchill Downs Sunday.

“He worked an easy three-eighths last week and we came back with just an easy half-mile [Sunday],” trainer Brad Cox said of last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner. “He got delayed coming back to Churchill from Saudi, so we just wanted to be easy on him for a little while and get him back going. We'll start to get more serious in the next few weeks.”

Cox said no target race had been picked out for Mandaloun, who opened 2022 with a win in the Jan. 22 GIII Louisiana S. at Fair Grounds.

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Trainer Bonus Back for Preakness Weekend

For the sixth consecutive year, the Maryland Jockey Club will over bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run at least five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes that are to be carded for Preakness weekend May 20 and 21 at Pimlico Racecourse.

A total of 16 stakes–10 at the graded level–with combined purse money of $3.8 million will be offered. The trainer who accumulates the most points will earn $50,000, with $25,000 for second, $12,000 for third, $7,000 for fourth, $4,000 for fifth and $2,000 for sixth.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen was the leading Preakness weekend stakes trainer in 2018 and 2019, followed by Brad Cox in 2019 and Mike Maker in 2020. Asmussen edged Maker for the top spot again in 2021.

There will also be bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend. The points are accumulated in similar fashion with $25,000 going to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth and $1,000 to sixth.

Nominations are free for all stakes, with the exception of the Preakness, and close Tuesday, May 10. To make a nomination, email stakes coordinator Marie Kizenko at marie.kizenko@marylandracing.com; call 410-542-9400 or 800-638-1859; or fax 410-542-1221.

Entries will be taken Sunday, May 15 for the entire Black-Eyed Susan Day program, with post positions drawn for all undercard stakes. The Black-Eyed Susan will be drawn Monday, May 16, when entries are taken and post positions drawn for the Preakness Day program.

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