Brad Cox

Money Game (Candy Ride {Arg}--Miss Bling Bling, by Tapit) won on debut at Oaklawn Park in March of last year, then the chestnut cleared an optional claimer over course and distance in early May. Heading to the sidelines, the colt returned to action with a win at Fair Grounds Mar. 19. The 5-2 second choice here was squeezed at the break, but Money Game was able to take up a spot to the outside in the second flight by the first turn. Waiting to pounce up the backstretch, the 4-year-old...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was suggested to trainer Brad Cox that Commandment (Into Mischief) was a forgotten horse coming into the 158th running of the $2-million GI Belmont Stakes. "Not with me," Cox said at his office on the Oklahoma Training Track. Then a pause and a smile. "But I know what you mean," he said. "I don't know if he is or not (forgotten). All I know is that he is doing well. I have liked his works since the Derby; I liked how he shipped up here...

3rd-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 6-5, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.34, ft, 3 lengths. Tab at Zanzibar (Candy Ride {Arg}), second behind 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Sea Strike (Midshipman) in his debut at Aqueduct Apr. 25, came back one better Friday to graduate at the Belmont at Saratoga meet for owners Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables. Drawn inside and forwardly placed in this 6 1/2-furlong spot, the 3-1 second choice was outrun only by longshot Onepac (Cupid) to his inside as that front pair opened up a small gap back to...

Pin Up Betty (Constitution) may have been looking for a repeat in the GIII Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes, but it was Full of Run Racing II LLC and Frank Silva's Sweet Treasure (f, 4, Twirling Candy--Stellium, by Empire Maker) who led every step of the way to capture the 1 1/16-mile turf contest on Stephen Foster Preview Day at Churchill Downs Saturday. It marked the dark bay's first stakes score. Despite Pin Up Betty--with her distinctive blinkers--breaking sharpest of all, it was Sweet Treasure from the farthest outside post...

Juddmonte homebred and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Touch of Fire (Constitution) made it three wins from four career starts with a powerful victory in Saturday's Audubon S. at Churchill Downs. The 4-5 favorite tugged his way into second passing the Twin Spires for the first time. Just waiting for his cue through a half mile in :47.38, Touch of Fire cruised up alongside on the far turn and took over with authority in the stretch to win by three lengths. Tiernanogue (Quality Road) was second. Touch of Fire,...

With June around the corner, the graded stakes calendar heats back up as Churchill Downs hosts its Stephen Foster Preview on Saturday. The local prep for the June 28 running of the GI Stephen Foster Stakes, the GIII Blame Stakes is one of six higher-level races on the card and could be deemed as wide-open. Wathnan Racing's Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) has the class edge though. The 2025 winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup returned to Meydan back in late March, but was unable to duplicate the feat....

The 3-year-old sprint division just keeps getting better. Deep Flame (c, 3, Into Mischief--Barbadia, by Speightstown) looks like another major player in the stacked division following a head-turning, seven-length maiden victory over older horses at third asking at Churchill Downs May 17. The Juddmonte homebred sat a press-and-pounce trip beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. and stopped the timer for six furlongs in a sharp 1:08.96. He earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure. He was previously a well-beaten second behind next-out Lafayette S. winner Trouble Calling (Dialed In) on debut for Brad...

1st-BAQ, $85K, Msw, 2yo, (S), 5f, 1:10p.m. Life Is Good is represented by a pair of juveniles, including Repole Stable's BEACH LIFE. Bred by Thirty Year Farm, the New York-bred brought $350,000 at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The filly by Achalaya (Bellamy Road) is a half-sister to multiple Grade I-winning turf horse Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed). Trained by Todd Pletcher, the firster will be ridden by Johnny Velazquez. The WinStar stallion is also represented by Twice the Life, out of C'Est La Vie (Medaglia d'Oro). The Jeremiah Englehart-trained filly...

TIMONIUM, MD - The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, conducted for the first time after an untimed under-tack preview, produced its highest ever gross, average and median when it concluded Tuesday evening in Timonium. Over two days, 382 horses sold for $52,835,500 for an average of $138,313 and a median of $70,000. Those figures improved on records set just last year when 327 horses sold for $44,317,500, an average of $135,528 and a median of $60,000. "We are absolutely thrilled with the results of the 2026 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic...

After opening his career with a pair of runner-up efforts, Juddmonte homebred Deep Flame (Into Mischief) romped home to his maiden victory at Churchill Downs Sunday. The 2-5 favorite attended the pace of longshot Armet (Practical Joke) through an opening quarter in :22.55. He took the lead out of the turn and was quickly clear as the half went up in :45.08. The result was never in doubt from there as he skipped clear to score by seven lengths. Embry Show (Modernist) chased him home in second. Second on debut...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), seventh with a less-than-ideal trip in the GI Kentucky Derby, has begun to gear up for the GI Belmont Stakes at Saratoga June 6. The GI Curlin Florida Derby winner breezed four furlongs for trainer Brad Cox in company in :48.80 (29/83) at Churchill Downs Friday, his first move since the Kentucky Derby. "The breeze went well today and he's come out of the Derby in good order," said Case Clay, Wathnan's Racing Manager, USA. "We'll shoot for the Belmont now." Clay continued, "He did...

HIGHGROVE (Frosted--Bell Court, by Street Sense), who as an 'Insight' runner went off as the 2-1 second choice here, fired out of the blocks and proceeded to make every pole a winning one through the top of the lane. The filly clearly had more left in the tank and she went on to graduate by 2 1/2 lengths over fellow first-time starter Long Term Market (McKinzie). The 'Insighted' Run Wild (Gun Runner) finished fourth. The second to the races for her dam, the winner has a yearling half-brother by Loggins...