It's hard to believe that as of the morning of Apr. 7, 2018, Brad Cox had yet to garner his first Grade I win. Later that afternoon, the Cox-trained Monomoy Girl would win the GI Central Bank Ashland S., thus propelling her to wins in the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, as well as a 3-year-old filly championship.
Fast forward to 2020, the stalwart tempo continued with yet another championship run by the chestnut, who spent the entire 2019 season on the sidelines before mounting her epic return during a season gripped by a pandemic. And while Monomoy Girl once again proved to be a force for Cox in 2020, she was far from the only horse propelling the Cox team.
The latest renewal of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, which punctuated an already impressive racing season for the 40-year-old, who tied Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella's record of four victories during one Breeders' Cup with victories by Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) (Longines Distaff), Knicks Go (Paynter) (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile), Essential Quality (Tapit) (TVG Juvenile) and Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (Juvenile Fillies Turf). In addition to a sparkling performance at the Breeders' Cup, Cox earned his second Kentucky Oaks victory this season with Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), who landed the blanket of lilies at odds of 15-1. Also among horses to win at the graded level for Cox in 2020: Arklow (Arch), Factor This (The Factor), Beau Recall (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Blended Citizen (Proud Citizen), Shared Sense (Street Sense), Dot Matrix (Freud), Warrior's Charge (Munnings), Night Ops (Warrior's Reward), Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice), Bonny South (Munnings) and Wells Bayou (lookin At Lucky).
Rounding out the year second in earnings behind Steve Asmussen ($20,162,064), who had over twice the number of starters and made half as much money per start ($8,851 vs. $21,023), Cox ended 2020 with a 24% strike rate, finishing in the money 55% of the time.
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