Brad Cox grew up two blocks from the back gate of Churchill Downs so it only makes sense he wound up with a career in Thoroughbred racing.
“My dad took me to the track at an early age, and me and buddies would sneak over there all the time – I shouldn’t say sneak, but you know what I mean – but we’d go all the time for the races,” Cox said. “I knew at an early age I wanted to be in the business. Doing what I didn’t know. Then after a while I thought I’d try to train. I was a hotwalker, believe me I worked my way up.”
Cox worked for Frankie Brothers, Burk Kessinger, Jimmy Baker and Dallas Stewart on the way up, then branched out on his own in late 2004. He sent out his first winner at Turfway Park in just his second start.
“Turfway Park. I started the filly at Churchill, she was 40-1 and was on the lead at the eighth pole, I thought she would win and she wound up third,” Cox said. “I ran her back two weeks later at Turfway and she won with Joe Johnson. December 4, 2004. Her name was One Lucky Storm. That was exciting.”
Cox continues to work his way up, and he’s got a barn of 16 inside Horse Haven on the Oklahoma Training Track and stalls at the harness track. Still active in the claiming game – he’d claimed River Date, High Noon Rider and Grand Candy the first four days of the meet – his Saratoga string features a mix of promising and sometimes high-priced 2-year-olds with accomplished stakes horses. Cox won three races at Saratoga in 2016 and four in 2015.
“The numbers, our percentages, we’re happy with how we’ve done in the past here,” Cox said. “Hopefully we’ll have more starts and more wins this year, that’s the goal. We’re trying to build the division up.”
After wrapping up training and checking on his horses, Cox walked down his shedrow Wednesday morning with The Special’s Tom Law.
Dowse’s Beach: The big gray 6-year-old New York-bred son of Disco Rico occupies the stall next to Cox’s office. He’s won back-to-back turf sprints in allowance-optional company, the first June 4 for an $80,000 tag. “We claimed him at Belmont for $62,500 and have run back twice. He ran back for the three-other-than optional 80, was in for the tag that day and ran really well. The owners wanted to protect him next time and I agreed with them, we put him in a three-other-than, he performed well again, won the race and we’re going to point him for the Troy. It’s a tough race, obviously, with his stablemate here next door. He’s going to be in there as well. He’s really doing well, we breezed him on the dirt and hopefully he’ll breeze Monday on the turf. If all goes well we’ll go in the Troy.”
Green Mask: Multiple graded stakes winner relaxed with his ice boots on while he dug into his feed tub. He perked up a bit with visitors outside his stall, repeatedly biting, picking up and dropping the tub. “He’s a character, a cool horse. He thinks he’s the boss. He’s earned that title. He’s training well, breezed on the dirt (July 24) and is slated to go again Monday. Javier (Castellano) has ridden him his last three starts and he’s been a very consistent horse all year. He seems to run well with Javier, he seems to get along with him really well. We’re just trying to get him to the Breeders’ Cup in the best condition, or path we can. I don’t know how many more times he’ll run after the Troy (Aug. 6).”
Sassy Little Lila: Second in last year’s Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita and second in the Grade 1 Just A Game in her last start Belmont Day. “Nice filly. I guess she’s only made two starts in Grade 1 company and she was second in both. We’ll go to the De La Rose (Aug. 5) with her, it would be a great spot here. She’s doing great, we’re excited. Hopefully we can make her a stakes winner at the meet. She likes Saratoga.
More Mojo: Jeff Drown’s 2-year-old More Than Ready filly finished third in 5 1/2-furlong maiden Opening Day. “We like her, she broke from the 1 hole. We’ll give her time to recover from that race. She came out of it well and we think with the added ground and hopefully not drawing the 1 hole next time she’ll improve. This filly is nice.”
Ezmosh: Zayat Stable’s Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old son of Tizway finished third behind Sporting Chance and Givemeaminit in 5 1/2-furlong maiden the first Saturday of the meet. “He’s a horse we had at Churchill and was really doing well so we decided to ship him up. He came up two days before the race, Javier rode him, he broke from the 2 hole and was a good third. It looked like a solid race, Lukas won it with a Tiznow that he paid $575,000 for. We think he could probably stretch out with distance and time. He’ll get another shot up here.”
Arklow: Won the Grade 2 American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard after connections flirted with possible run at the Triple Crown in graded stakes this winter at Fair Grounds. “He ran bad (11th) in the Belmont Derby (July 8), didn’t come out of it with any physical reason but probably needed the race going from a mile-and-a-sixteenth to a mile-and-a-quarter with nine weeks in between. He’s breezed here and if all goes well we’re pointing for the Hall of Fame (Aug. 4).”
Cool Beans: Magic Cap Stable’s 2-year-old daughter of Candy Ride cost $300,000 at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. She’s worked twice on the Oklahoma Training Track since shipping up from Belmont. “She should make a start here at the meet. We like her, she’s gone a couple halfs and is ready for a gate work.”
Purely Lucky: New York-bred 2-year-old filly by Lookin At Lucky bred and owned by Sanford Robbins breezed a half-mile in :51.02 from the gate on the Oklahoma Saturday. “She’s getting close to running. Obviously will run in New York-bred company but she’s doing very, very well. Hopefully in this first book at Saratoga, if not the first then the second.”
Andrew’s Game: Sprawled out in the stall, son of First Samurai cost $350,000 at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-olds in training sale. “He’s up to a half out of the gate, doing well and getting there. Hopefully he’ll make the meet.”
Southern Hills: A $150,000 buy at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May sale by Mike Ryan, son of Paynter breezed a half in :51.62 Saturday on the Oklahoma. “He’s at about the same fitness level as Andrew’s Game. He should also make the meet if all is well. I like him, I think he could be OK going long.”
Maximize: The Kindred Stables went to $525,000 for son of Bodemeister at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale. Breezed a bullet half-mile July 15 at Belmont before another half in :48.46 on the Oklahoma July 22. “Another at about the same fitness level as most of these, ready for a half out of the gate. He might be a little behind, but you never know, he might catch up.”
Chocolate Ride: GenStar Thoroughbreds’ four-time graded stakes winner finished second in Grade 2 Wise Dan at Churchill June 17 and fourth in Warrior Veterans Stakes at Indiana Grand July 15. “He’s at Churchill. He’s cool, we didn’t back off of him and he’s actually going to breeze this weekend. He’s doing great, moving well. We’re going to carry on with him and pick our spots. Ellis, maybe West Virginia, Louisiana Downs. Pick spots in the Midwest going long on the grass.”
Benner Island: Winner of the Grade 2 Eight Belles on Kentucky Oaks Day, 3-year-old daughter of Speightstown finished third in Grade 1 Acorn behind Abel Tasman and Salty at Belmont June 10. “We just sent her to the farm yesterday, she had a setback and she’s going to be out for the fall.”
Cowboy Culture: Head of Plains Partners’ and Cheyenne Stable’s 3-year-old by Quality Road won the Grade 3 Arlington Classic May 27 in his most recent start. “He just breezed last weekend and if all is well he could make the Saranac at the end of the meet. He’s at Churchill, not here yet and may come up.”
