COX ALTERS COURSE WITH JULIET FOXTROT (GB) TO OLD FORESTER MINT JULEP

By Darren Rogers —-

LOUISVILLE, KY (Thursday, June 10, 2021) – Juddmonte and trainer Brad Cox were not originally planning to run Grade I winner Juliet Foxtrot (GB) in Saturday night’s $150,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (GIII) at Churchill Downs but the team altered her campaign in hopes they would get rewarded in the 1 1/16-mile turf event.

“Originally, we were targeting the (May 31) Grade I Gamely (at Santa Anita),” Cox said. “Her bloodwork was a little off before the race and we didn’t want to ship her across country. Luckily, the Mint Julep allowed us to stay at home.”

Juliet Foxtrot, who won the Jenny Wiley (GI) at Keeneland in her previous start, was made the 6-5 morning line favorite in the 11-horse Old Forester Mint Julep field of fillies and mares.

The now 6-year-old daughter of Dansili (GB) has one win over the Matt Winn Turf Course when she made her second start in 2019 for Cox after being transferred from European-based conditioner Charles Hills. Since her stateside-debut, Juliet Foxtrot has reeled off five wins from 12 starts with two runner-up efforts and three third-place finishes.

Even though Juliet Foxtrot’s plans were adjusted from running in the Gamely, she never missed a published workout since the Jenny Wiley and breezed four times over the turf at Churchill Downs.

Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard Juliet Foxtrot for her two-length Jenny Wiley victory, has the return call from post No. 2.

The 1 1/16-mile Old Forester Mint Julep is carded as Race 9 with a post time of 10:11 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 11-race Downs After Dark program gets underway at 6 p.m.

The complete field for the Mint Julep from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Mintd (IRE) (Ricardo Santana Jr., Brendan Walsh, 12-1); Juliet Foxtrot (GB) (Gaffalione, Cox, 6-5); Hendy Woods (Florent Geroux, Mark Casse, 6-1); Vezpa (BRZ) (Joe Talamo, Paulo Lobo, 30-1); Lashara (GB) (Julien Leparoux, Mark Casse, 20-1); Dominga (Shaun Bridgmohan, Cox, 8-1); Flash n’ Dance (Marcelino Pedroza, Marcus O’Donnell, 30-1); Tuned (GB) (David Cohen, Graham Motion, 12-1); Crystal Ball (James Graham, Rodolphe Brisset, 6-1); Sister Hanan (Corey Lanerie, Ben Colebrook, 10-1); She’sonthewarpath (Adam Beschizza, Steve Margolis, 8-1).

Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

THIS WEEK AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Racing continued Thursday at Churchill Downs with a first post of 5 p.m. for Twilight Thursday presented by Blue Moon. The eight-race card featured a Derby City 6 jackpot carryover of $54,180 that began in Race 3. Fans can enjoy $1 Blue Moon and domestic beer along with live music from Maestro J and local food trucks.

Friday’s nine-race card at Churchill Downs has a first post of 12:45 p.m. and featured a $104,000 second-level allowance that is scheduled to run at 1 ½ miles on turf.

Saturday is Downs After Dark – Rock the Downs presented by Budweiser. The evening of entertainment features live racing, music from Rock United on the Plaza Stage, special themed cocktail specials, LED jugglers and stilt walkers from CirqueLouis and music performances from the Pagoda. Guests are encouraged to break out their best rocker wear including vintage band shirts, leather jackets, denim, plaid or even glam.

Sunday’s card will have a 12:45 p.m. first post and was being drawn Thursday.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com/tickets.

MEET LEADERS – At the start of the new racing week, Tyler Gaffalione had a commanding 33-21 win lead over Florent Geroux in the rider standings. Ricardo Santana Jr. was in third with 18 wins. … Trainer Brad Cox had a 15-11 win lead over Chris Hartman. Tom Amoss, Mike Maker and Brendan Walsh were tied in third with 10 victories. … Juddmonte continued to lead the owner standings with five wins over Amerman Racing and Jim and Susan Hill who were tied in second with three wins.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The rail setting on the Matt Winn Turf Course is in Lane 2, 15 ft. from the inside hedge. The races were taken off the turf for racing Thursday due to inclement weather in the Louisville area. … Trainer Chris Hartman has won his last six races at Churchill Downs. He had two horses entered Thursday evening and attempted to become the first trainer since Joe Woodard in 2005 to record eight consecutive wins beneath the historic Twin Spires. … The Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs is partnering with Equine Trail Advocates for a “Youth Horsemanship Summer Program.” Each week, several of the Backside Learning Center’s students will enjoy different aspects of taking care of horses and will eventually learn how to ride. More information can be found on the Backside Learning Center’s Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/BacksideLearningCenter.