Brad Cox

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) looked no worse for wear at Payson Park Sunday morning after taking the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream one day earlier. "He looks great this morning," trainer Brad Cox said. "We're real pleased with him." Winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes in early January, Commandment fended off 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) in the Kentucky Derby point-earning qualifier. The 1 1/16-mile test serves as a prep for the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 29 at Gulfstream. While the...

The beautifully-bred Paradise (Gun Runner) made easy work of a short field in Saturday's Busher Stakes to claim her first points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. A $700,000 Saratoga yearling purchase for a partnership which is now NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods, the daughter of MGSW/MGISP Venetian Harbor (Munnings) just broke her maiden at Gulfstream going this same one-mile distance Jan. 4 before shipping into New York to face just four rivals for 37.5 Oaks points. Third in the opening furlong but clearly wanting to do more under...

8th-OP, $110K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 4:39 p.m. ET. Novogratz Racing Stables Inc. homebred Munnings Challenge (Munnings) kicks off his career for Brad Cox. The dark bay was produced by the talented and overachieving $20,000 FTKOCT yearling buy Amy's Challenge (Artie Schiller), a five-time stakes winner and narrow runner-up in the 2019 GI Madison S. at Keeneland and third-place finisher in the GI Humana Distaff S. at Churchill Downs. He is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. TJCIS PPS 2nd-SA, $70K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, 4:03 p.m. ET. Mass (Not This Time), a...

2nd-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 12:01 p.m. ET. Al Loud (Quality Road), a $650,000 OBS April purchase by Tagermeen Racing, gets his career started for Todd Pletcher. Produced by GSW & GISP Genre (Bernardini), Al Loud previously brought $410,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The Quality Road x Bernardini cross is also responsible for 2022 G1 Saudi Cup winner Emblem Road and 2019 GI Alabama S. heroine and narrow 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runner-up Dunbar Road. Gilded Bandit (Charlatan), drawn widest of all in post 11 for this unveiling,...

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for this weekend's trio of GI Kentucky Derby preps--Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park and GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct and Sunday's GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park. GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. - Commandment (Into Mischief) is a deserving favorite and the horse to beat in this absolutely loaded renewal of the Coolmore Fountain of Youth. He kicked off the New Year in style, splitting horses at the top of the stretch en route to a...

Gary and Mary West's Sticker Shock (Uncle Mo--Smokey's Love, by Forestry) made it two-for-two going a route of ground when winning at Oaklawn Thursday afternoon. Allowed to settle in a two-wide third as Copper Wind (Gun Runner) led the way through a :23.49 quarter, the 3-2 favorite, who was getting-first-time Lasix here, took closer order as the pacesetter kept up the tempo through a half-mile in :47.62. Starting to put the pressure on the leader as the round the far turn, the West homebred held a narrow advantage straightening for...

12th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 7 1/2fT, post time: 5:50 p.m. ET Dreaming of Joy (Into Mischief), a half-sister to brilliant two-time champion, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Malathaat (Curlin), debuts on the lawn for trainer Brad Cox. Owned by Whisper Hill Farm and bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the daughter of Broodmare of the Year and GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy) RNA'd for $875,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. TJCIS PPs 5th-AQU, $80k, Msw, 3yo, 1m, post time: 3:12 p.m. ET Pauillac (Gun Runner),...

There's still time for this flashy maiden winner to earn her way to the big dance. One of three upcoming GI Kentucky Oaks preps--the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 28, GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 21 or GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 3--could be in play for Prom Queen (Quality Road), an eight-length winner at second asking for trainer Brad Cox at Gulfstream Park Feb. 12. "Just a little early to say which one makes the most sense right now," Cox said. "I sure like her. Longer...

This week's rankings are topped by the fastest Beyer for any female thus far in 2026. 5) PASSAGE EAST, LRL, 2-14, Barbara Fritchie S., 7f, VIDEO Beyer Speed Figure: 92 (f, 4, Audible--Salten Sapity, by Congrats) O-Larry Rabold; B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky); T-Hugh McMahon; J-Sheldon Russell. Trainer Hugh McMahon has won 1,227 races, but few could have given him more excitement than Passage East's gritty nostril victory after a spirited battle against odds-on favorite Takethemoneyhoney. McMahon claimed the filly for $30k out of her second lifetime start, and after a...

Last year's G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) sat a little closer to the front than usual and just got up to nail the wandering pacesetter 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Accelerize (Omaha Beach) by a head in Saturday's GIII Mineshaft S. at Fair Grounds. Time to Win (Not This Time) was third. The even-money favorite tracked in a three-wide third through an opening quarter in :23.53. Back a spot into fourth through a half mile :47.04, Hit Show was asked to quicken three furlongs...

Looking to be named the belle of the maiden ball after a Gulfstream dance, Prom Queen (Quality Road--Miss Bling Bling, by Tapit) garnered the right number of votes to wear a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', crown on Thursday afternoon. A runner-up on debut as the well-regarded favorite going a mile in Hallandale Jan. 23, the 3-year-old was ready to try out her two turn moves as the 80 cents on the dollar favorite here. In the mix from the bell, Prom Queen was fighting for position from third...

It's been three weeks since our last GI Kentucky Oaks Top 10, and a lot has happened. But no one stepped up with the type of explosive performance that would have shaken up the standings. We've dropped four horses from our original poll. Mythical (St. Patrick's Day) just wasn't good enough in the GIII Forward Gal Stakes. Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) has been injured and has been taken off the Oaks trail. Percy's Bar (Upstart) hasn't had a workout since Jan. 6, which doesn't bode well for her making the...