Divine Comedy | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cox Holds Heavy Hand In Silverbulletday

When you have a barn loaded with bluebloods for legendary owners, sometimes paths are going to cross. Such is the case for trainer Brad Cox in Saturday's $150,000 Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The four-time defending Fair Grounds champion has entered Juddmonte Farms' homebred Sun Path to compete against Godolphin's homebred Divine Comedy and seven others in the 1-mile 70-yard stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Silverbulletday offers 17 qualifying points (10-4-2-1) for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1), and the race should give a glimpse into the best of the locals for the March 20 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Sun Path (post 9 at 2-1 with Florent Geroux) is the much more fancied of the Cox runners. She is two-for-three on the track and is long on pedigree as well, as the daughter of Munnings is a full-sister to last year's Fair Grounds Oaks winner Bonnie South for these same connections. Sun Path was second on debut at Keeneland in October, broke her maiden at Churchill Downs in November, then won an allowance here Dec. 18 by an eye-popping 12 ¾ lengths.

With entries taken a week out and a lightly raced filly who showed she's still on her game when she threw down a 4-furlong bullet work in :47 4/5 over the track Jan. 9, Cox decided not to keep Sun Path in the barn.

“She worked well Saturday and we have to enter seven days out,” Cox said of Sun Path. “Her last race wasn't super taxing on her and she's had two nice works since, so we decided to run her back. Hopefully she can continue her progression to what we hope is the Kentucky Oaks. She drew outside but I think if we get a trip, she'll be tough.”

Divine Comedy (post 6 at 8-1 with Shaun Bridgmohan) is much more of an unknown commodity, though her two-turn debut resulted in an easy 5 ¼-length maiden special weight win here on Dec. 18. The daughter of Into Mischief was sixth sprinting on debut at Churchill in September but she clearly relished the added distance and turn she got last time, which was no surprise to her trainer.

“The ground helped her more than anything,” Cox said. “She just kind of found herself on the lead doing all the work and she stayed on. We always thought she'd be better with distance and she was. She'll need to step up in her third career start, but she's had two good works since her last race and I think she's ready to move forward.”

As much as undefeated filly who has won her two races by a combined 6 ¼ lengths could be one, Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational (post 1 at 5-2 with Declan Carroll) is the wildcard in the Silverbulletday. The daughter of Curlin cost $725,000 as a yearling and has looked the part in a pair of wins over Woodbine's Tapeta surface for trainer Mark Casse, which includes the Oct. 17 Glorious Song by four lengths. Souper Sensational shows six works over the Fair Grounds main track and Casse's assistant David Carroll, who has been readying her for her local debut, admits the Silverbulletday will go a long way in determining what path to take in the future.

“Based on how well she performs will dictate her campaign after that,” Carroll said. “We feel she can be special, it's just a matter of at what distance and whether dirt will be part of that. The most important thing you hope for is talent and she's already shown that. She deserves to test the waters against really nice, 3-year-old fillies on the dirt. If she handles this well, it opens up more avenues for her.”

Joel Politi's Littlestitious (post 8 at 6-1 with James Graham) tried two turns in the Dec. 1 My Trusty Cat, traveling seven furlongs at Delta Downs and she drew off by 10 ¼ lengths for trainer Tom Amoss. Two starts back in October at Keeneland, the daughter of Ghostzapper broke her maiden in her fourth career start, and she clearly moved up last time, though she meets much tougher in her local debut, which will be her first start past seven furlongs.

Completing the Silverbulletday field from the rail out: Brad King, Jim Cone, Scott Bryant, and Stan and Suzanne Kirby's Moon Swag (post 2 at 20-1 with Adam Beschizza), fourth sprinting in the local December 19 Letellier for trainer Brendan Walsh; Lothenbach Stables' homebred Charlie's Penny (post 3 at 8-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.), third in the Letellier for trainer Chris Block; Rigney Racing's Minute Waltz (post 4 at 8-1 with Gabriel Saez), third going a mile November 28 at Churchill in an optional-claimer for trainer Phil Bauer; John Dewberry's Princess Theorem (post 5 at 12-1 with Rafael Santana Jr.), fifth November 28 in Churchill's Golden Rod (G2) for Walsh; and Miacomet Farms and Michael Pietrangelo's Barista (post 7 at 12-1 with Miguel Mena), who won a December 31 off-the-turf optional-claimer here for trainer Jimmy Baker.

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Cox Pointing Mandaloun, Divine Comedy To Fair Grounds’ Road To The Derby Kickoff Day

Catch him if you can. From New Orleans to Hot Springs to Boynton Beach, trainer Brad Cox is logging plenty of frequent flier miles this winter while overseeing a stable that has him in contention to not only win him his first career Eclipse Award as Outstanding Trainer, but raise the bar even higher in 2021.

Front and center at Fair Grounds where he is the four-time defending training champion, Cox has Mandaloun and Divine Comedy pointing to a pair of stakes on the Jan. 16 “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day,” for what he hopes will be the start of the path to the April 30 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) and May 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) later this spring at Churchill Downs.

Both Juddmonte Farms Inc.'s homebred Mandaloun and Godolphin LLC's homebred Divine Comedy figure to be among the favorites in their respective races on the 16th, with the former headlining the $200,000 Lecomte (G3) and the latter starring in the $150,000 Silverbulletday. Both races are important 10-4-2-1 points races for the Derby and Oaks, respectively, and will help shape the local landscape for the March 20 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

Mandaloun, a 3-year-old son of Into Mischief, was visually impressive winning both starts in Kentucky at 2, though he's yet to go two turns or run past 7 furlongs. Cox is eagerly looking forward to giving him the chance, and expects even better when it comes.

“He's pretty good and I'm excited about him getting around two turns,” Cox said. “He's been very good in his first two but I think he's a two-turn horse and we're going to see what he's cut out to do. Knock on wood he'll have one more work this weekend and I'm excited about running him on the 16th.”

Divine Comedy, a 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, impressed breaking her maiden here going long Dec. 18 after running sixth sprinting on debut at Churchill. While she may not be as accomplished or as heralded at Mandaloun, she's another in a long line of potential Cox stars.

“Divine Comedy is doing well and came out of her race in good shape,” Cox said. “She had an easy maintenance half, her first work back, and we're excited to run her.”

Cox also left the door open to run Juddmonte's homebred Sun Path, a full sister to last year's Fair Grounds Oaks winner Bonnie South, in the Silverbulletday. The daughter of Munnings is 2-for-3, including a local allowance win the same day Divine Comedy broke her maiden.

Along with his Fair Grounds string, Cox has runners stabled in Hot Springs, Arkansas for his Oaklawn Park division and Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach, Florida for his Gulfstream Park contingent. Fair Grounds Media caught up with him Wednesday morning to look back on a 2020 season that sees him on the short list of Eclipse Award candidates, as well as look towards 2021, where he's beginning to plot out the paths of his top horses.

“When I started this, I had dreams of winning an Eclipse,” Cox said. “There are three things that I said I would like to do in this industry, and that's win an Eclipse Award, do enough to earn a trip to the Hall of Fame, and win the Kentucky Derby. And I've yet to do any of them. So, I've continued to work hard, try to find good horses, place them properly, and manage them right. I'm very fortunate to have great owners, a great staff, and great horses and we've had a very good 2020.”

Updates on other big-name runners from Brad Cox's barn are below:

Godolphin LLC's homebred Essential Quality, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is odds-on to win the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old, and is atop many Derby Future Book lists):

“He's a good colt and his work this weekend (4 furlongs in 48.80 Jan. 3 at Fair Grounds), just 'wow,' just phenomenal,” Cox said. “We didn't give him time off but we backed off on him and he seems to have responded well. He was really good this past weekend and we just need to keep him that way until the middle of February. The Risen Star (G2, Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds) is on the table, as is the Southwest (G3, Feb. 15 at Oaklawn). The one thing about the Fair Grounds race is it's a lot more points (50-20-10-5), so that makes it a little more attractive. But the distance is the question; do we want to go a mile and an eighth off not having a race in three months? We'll talk it over with the Godolphin team and make a decision probably about the 1st of February. If he goes to the Southwest, I'm 99% sure that he would go back to Fair Grounds, and the Louisiana Derby would be in play after that.”

Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables LLC, The Elkstone Group LLC, and Bethlehem Stables LLC's Monomoy Girl, who won her second Breeders' Cup Distaff in November and will earn her second Eclipse Award later this month:

“The Bayakoa (G3) on (February) the 15th (at Oaklawn) is the plan right now for her,” Cox said. “She seems to have picked up where she left off last year. Her work this weekend (4 furlongs in 48.80 Jan. 3 at Fair Grounds) was really, really good and I feel like we're ahead of schedule as far as where we need to be with her. We never took her out of training, so it's not like she lost a bunch of fitness, but her work was really, really good.”

Clint Gasaway, Lance Gasaway, Madaket Stables LLC, and Wonder Stables' Wells Bayou, who won the Louisiana Derby in March but hasn't raced since running fifth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in May:

“(He's had 10 workouts since the middle of October) and we have a couple of options, including the Louisiana (G3 at Fair Grounds Jan. 16) and the Fifth Season (Jan. 23) at Oaklawn as well.”

OXO Equine LLC's Travel Column, who ended her 2-year-old campaign with an eye-catching win in Churchill's Golden Rod (G2):

“She's really good and she's doing really well right now,” Cox said. “Her work the other day (4 furlongs in :50 Jan. 3 at Fair Grounds) was a little slow but it was more because her workmate broke off a little slow but the rider on her did exactly what he was instructed to do and she'll pick it up and start going a little quicker and further in the future and right now we are pointing for (Fair Grounds' Feb. 13) Rachel Alexandra (G2).”

Korea Racing Authority's Knicks Go, who won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November:

“We're thinking about the Louisiana but we're pretty sure we'll end up going in the Pegasus (G1 at Gulfstream Jan. 23),” Cox said. “I told the owners I could go either way, and they thought maybe we'll wait one more week and give it a shot there and see how it goes. Then we could maybe look at the Saudi ($20 million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse Feb. 20) race as well. We'll get the first one out of the way and then go from there. I don't think further distances will be an issue for him at all. He's doing well, he's a grade 1 race horse, and that work (at Fair Grounds Jan. 2), three quarters in 1:13.00, that's fantastic and is moving on that race track.”

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber, The Elkstone Group LLC, and Bethlehem Stables LLC's Aunt Pearl (IRE), who completed a 3-for-3 juvenile campaign with a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf:

“She was given some time and there aren't a lot of options with the 3-year-old fillies on the grass early in the year,” Cox said. “One of our goals is possibly (Royal) Ascot (G1 Coronation in June) and maybe the Churchill race (Tepin Stakes) this summer to start her back.”

Shortleaf Stable LLC's homebred Caddo River, a 9 ½-length MSW winner at Churchill in November:

“He's doing really well and we're going to shoot for the Smarty Jones (Jan. 22 at Oaklawn),” Cox said.

Juddmonte Farms Inc.'s Prate, a 4 ¼-lengh debut winner here Dec. 19:

“I think his next start will be around one-turn,” Cox said. “I'm not saying we wouldn't eventually try two turns, but for the time being we'll keep him around one-turn. I don't have anything picked out for him right now and I want to give him plenty of time to recover from his first race. Since he's been at Fair Grounds he's settled in really well and is moving forward mentally.”

Shortleaf Stable Inc.'s The Sound, who's won two in a row in New York:

“We'll try a second-level allowance race with him around two turns at Oaklawn and hopefully he'll gradually make the progression to stakes company before the winter is over,” Cox said.

Kueber Racing LLC's Coach, who won Churchill's Rags to Riches at 2:

“She had a fantastic work (4 furlongs in a bullet 48.00 Jan. 4 at Oaklawn) and we really weren't expecting her to do as much as she did,” Cox said. “We're pointing her to the Marth Washington (Jan. 30 at Oaklawn).”

Rupp Racing's Gagetown, second sprinting in the local Dec. 19 Sugar Bowl:

“We're pointing him to an allowance race (at Fair Grounds) on the 16th (of January) going long,” Cox said. “It will be his introduction to two turns. We think he should handle it but you don't now until you try.”

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Bloodlines Presented By Diamond B Farm’s Rowayton: Hope For The Holidays

The holiday season is a time of hope, and this year is especially so, as governments and people around the world look forward to a time without a pandemic. Racing is no different.

The sport was one of the bright points of a year that grated on the patience and optimism of millions because the organization and nature of horse racing allowed it to operate with few fans present but with hundreds of millions watching from afar thanks to technology.

Racecourse winners from the past several days have showcased some of the stories and horses that loom as likely pleasures for the coming year. One of the best potential stories is a follow-up to one the sharpest disappointments in two seasons of racing, with the return of the high-quality performer Maxfield (by Street Sense). In 2019, an ankle chip kept Grade 1 winner Maxfield from racing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile; this year, a condylar fracture kept the dark-coated colt with star potential on the sidelines through the classics.

On Dec. 19, Maxfield returned for his second start of the season, here at the end of the year, in the Tenacious Stakes at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Trained by Brendan Walsh for Godolphin, Maxfield showed the class and early pace to overcome his lack of recent activity and won the Tenacious by 2 1/2 lengths from the promising Curlin colt Sonneman.

In addition to the star quality of Maxfield, owner-breeder Godolphin had a handful of results to cheer about. Highly anticipated among those was the second victory in three starts for the 2-year-old Tapit colt Proxy, who is a son of Grade 1 winner Panty Raid (Include). Proxy had won a maiden on Nov. 26, then returned on Saturday as the odds-on favorite to win his first-level allowance by 2 1/2 lengths.

The colt's dam, Panty Raid, was a high-class performer in 2007, when she won the G1 Spinster Stakes and American Oaks at 3, then was sold for $2.5 million as a broodmare prospect the following year at the Fasig-Tipton November sale. Now 16, Panty Raid is the dam of stakes winner Micheline (Bernardini), who won the Sorority Stakes at 2, then the Dueling Grounds Oaks this year at 3, when the filly was also second in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

In addition, Darley had an impressive maiden winner in the juvenile filly Divine Comedy (Into Mischief), who won her second start, going a mile and 70 yards at the Fair Grounds in 1:44.37 to defeat her closest rival by 5 1/4 lengths. Out of the Street Cry mare Via Strata, Divine Comedy is from the same female family as Maxfield that traces to the Storm Cat mare Caress.

One of four stakes winners out of the Affirmed mare La Affirmed, Caress won seven stakes, including three at the Grade 3 level, and is a full sister to the important sire Bernstein, the sire of champion Tepin and the promising young stallion Karakontie, who won the French classic Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile. Caress is the second dam of Maxfield and the third dam of Divine Comedy.

Another story of note is the continuing success of leading sire Into Mischief; in 2020, he is the sire of Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Authentic, who has since been retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm, where he will stand alongside his famous sire.

In addition to Divine Comedy, Into Mischief had the maiden special winners By George and Prate. Both won on their debut. At Aqueduct racetrack in New York, By George won a six-furlong maiden by 5 1/4 lengths for owners Adele Dilschneider, Claiborne Farm, and Jump Sucker Stable. The owners had purchased the progressive colt out of the Keeneland September sale for $190,000.

Prate, on the other hand, is a home-grown gray colt racing for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms. Making his debut at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, Prate won by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:09.81, faster than the two six-furlong stakes on the same card.

The Juddmonte colt is out of the gray Exchange Rate mare Vaunting, who was unbeaten in two starts. A full sister to Grade 2 stakes winner Bragging, Vaunting produced Prate as her first foal; the dam has a yearling full brother named Visualize and a weanling half-sister by Kantharos. Prate is the fourth generation of this family bred and raced by Juddmonte.

In addition to Prate, Juddmonte also had an allowance winner at the Fair Grounds on Dec. 18 when the Munnings filly Sun Path won her second race from three starts. Even more important was how the pretty chestnut won. She came to the fore after about three-quarters of a mile and blew the competition into the infield to win by 12 3/4 lengths in 1:42.95 for the mile and 70 yards.

Sun Path is a full sister to Grade 2 winner Bonny South, who also ran second in the G1 Alabama, and they are the third generation of the family bred and raced by Juddmonte.

Judging by the form and the connections, racing fans have a lot to look forward to in 2021.

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Into Mischief Filly Romps at the Fair Grounds

7th-Fair Grounds, $47,000, Msw, 12-18, 2yo, f, 1m 70y, 1:44.37, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.

DIVINE COMEDY (f, 2, Into Mischief–Via Strata, by Street Cry {Ire}) could only manage sixth in her 6 1/2-panel unveiling at Churchill Downs Sept. 17 and received Lasix for this first try at two turns. Going straight to the front, the 3-1 shot walked the dog through a half-mile in :48.40 and continued unchallenged into the lane, cruising clear to a 5 1/2-length success. Wicked Bisou (Wicked Strong), the half-sister to champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), was the runner-up. Divine Comedy is the first foal out of Via Strata, who has since produced a pair of colts by Into Mischief. She failed to get in foal to Ghostzapper this spring. Her second dam is MGSW & GISP Golden Velvet (Seeking the Gold), who produced graded winners Lucullan (Hard Spun) and Innovative Idea (Bernardini). The winner’s third dam is MGSW Caress (Storm Cat), who is the dam of Grade I-winning sire Sky Mesa (Pulpit). This is also the family of Grade I-winning sophomore Maxfield (Street Sense), who returns to action in NOLA Saturday. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $29,086. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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