Brad Cox

4th-OP, $126K, OC 100k/C, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 2:32 p.m. ET. Sandman (Tapit), winner of last term's GI Arkansas Derby and third-place finisher in the GI Preakness S., kicks off his 4-year-old campaign in Hot Springs. The $1.2-million OBS March breezer was last seen finishing ninth in the grassy GIII DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational S. at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30. He will race with first-time Lasix with Jose Ortiz aboard. He is owned in partnership by D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables and is...

The Spendthrift Farm team never wanted to run its pair of 3-year-old male 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard', against one another during the lead-up to the GI Kentucky Derby. But that was no longer a problem when Ted Noffey (Into Mischief)--who was being pointed for the GII Fountain of Youth Stakes and the GI Florida Derby--was taken off the Trail due to bone bruising. So, that created a situation where Spendthrift's other 3-year-old star, Further Ado (Gun Runner), who is based in South Florida at Payson Park, might be...

A total of 367 of the world's top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds became eligible to compete in the 2026 Triple Crown series during the early nomination phase, which closed Monday, Jan. 26, Churchill Downs said in a press release on Tuesday. This year's early nominees span the globe and include several horses that have already made an impact on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby', led by graded stakes winners 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Further Ado (Gun Runner), 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Golden Tempo (Curlin), 'TDN Rising Star,...

She wasn't late. Everyone else was simply early. The Albaugh Family's homebred 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' On Time Girl (Not This Time) made a final-furlong move to the front and pulled away to easily capture Saturday's GIII Forward Gal Stakes, earning herself 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Making her 3-year-old debut, the Brad Cox trainee went three-for-four last year and was just a length away from an undefeated juvenile season when second as the favorite in the Myrtlewood Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 24. She...

Nearly (Not This Time), an impressive winner of two straight by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, will make his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park. The Centennial Farms colorbearer earned a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure defeating three rivals in an optional claimer going seven furlongs at Gulfstream most recently Jan. 2. Produced by a winning Mineshaft mare, Nearly worked a bullet four furlongs in :48.59 (1/25) at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 24. He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull,...

Commandment (Into Mischief), a dominating winner of the Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 3, will make his next start in the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28. The Wathnan Racing colorbearer returned to the worktab for trainer Brad Cox with a four-furlong breeze in :50.60 (16/27) at Payson Park Jan. 23. "Not long after the Mucho Macho Man, Brad (Cox) was thinking about the Fountain of Youth as a spaced-out target," said Case Clay, Wathnan's Racing Manager, USA. "He looks great and Brad's happy with...

Trainer Brad Cox is not prone to any delusions of grandeur where it comes to the chances of 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) against the likes of champion Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Nysos (Nyquist) and GII Clark Stakes hero Magnitude (Not This Time) in the G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Feb. 14. He also realizes that $20 million is a lot to play for and is keen to seize upon the opportunity that presents...

Hallandale Beach, FL--With Saturday's racing action already in full swing, the afternoon's Pegasus World Cup races got underway with 15-1 chance Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) getting up late to win the GII Filly and Mare Turf over Crevalle d'Oro (Constitution). Not particularly hurried coming out of the gate, the Brad Cox trainee broke well but was settled back near the back as 3-1 choice In Our Time (Not This Time) raced up to the front from her outside berth with And One More Time (Omaha Beach) and Movin' On Up...

7th-GP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, 3:21 p.m. ET. The full-brother of champion 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin) makes the races under same trainer Todd Pletcher. SPARTACUS dam Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy) was a $2.6-million purchase by M.V. Magnier at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale while the first-time starter was in utero. Her other progeny includes GI 'Big Cap' victor Idol (Curlin) and MSW Lost Ark (Violence).     , Canaletto (Into Mischief) makes his first start after going for an even million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Sent to trainer Chad...

It seems like just yesterday the announcement was made that Gulfstream Park would host the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational. However, a lot has happened over the course of the past 10 years. While the present-day Pegasus format doesn't look much like it did when it was first launched in 2017, the primary directive of getting the best older horses in the country to come to Southern Florida for the third week in January has remained constant. And the history of past winners certainly reflects that. Beginning with its first...

8th-GP, $84k, Msw, 3yo, f, 1m, 3:50 p.m. ET Shadwell Stable's ELGHEED (Tapit), a $1.2-million Keeneland September purchase in 2024, makes her first trip to the post for trainer Todd Pletcher. The filly is the first foal out of Immediate Impact (Into Mischief), a half-sister to champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) who won her lone racetrack appearance for Bob Baffert in 2019. The mare's second foal, a filly by Flightline, sold for $1.6 million to Douglas Scharbauer at the 2025 Keeneland September sale. Brad Cox saddles firster Prom Queen (Quality Road),...

There's not a whole lot of guesswork when it comes to putting together a Top 12 list for this year's GI Kentucky Derby. Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) is clearly Number One, and finding a list of quality horses to slot in behind him isn't that difficult. If only compiling a similar list for the Kentucky Oaks were that easy. The 3-year-old filly set has begun the new year without a clear leader, and many who will make this list have to prove more. It's also early...very early. That means there's...