Cox Confident Easterly, Autobahn Ready for Louisiana Derby Distance Test

By Kevin Kilroy —-

Cox Confident Easterly, Autobahn Ready for Louisiana Derby Distance Test

NEW ORLEANS (March 16, 2026) – Trainer Brad Cox will send out a pair of last-out maiden winners in Saturday’s Grade 2 $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and the two-time winner of the race believes both colts are capable of handling the demanding 1 3/16-mile distance.

The 113th running of the Louisiana Derby drew a field of nine 3-year-olds and serves as a Championship Series event on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding qualifying points of 100-50-25-15-10 to the top five finishers.

Cox, who has captured at least one local Derby prep each year at Fair Grounds since 2020, is seeking his first title of the 2025-26 meet. He previously won the Louisiana Derby with Catching Freedom in 2024 and Wells Bayou in 2020.

Both owned by WinStar Farm, CHC Inc and First Go Racing, his entrants Saturday — Easterly and Autobahn — arrive off maiden-breaking victories at Gulfstream Park.

Easterly earned his first victory Feb. 7, drawing clear late to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by 2 3/4 lengths. Cox said the colt has progressed steadily since beginning his career.

“It was a professional win,” Cox said. “We started him around one turn just to get going. I thought he ran a respectable race coming out of a good maiden. Then he was able to graduate last time around two turns, doing what we thought he would do — move forward around two turns.”

In that victory, Easterly broke sharply before settling into a stalking trip rather than being caught wide. He made his move on favored rival Mr. Miracle midway through the far turn and responded when that rival tried to re-engage, finishing strongly through the wire.

Cox said there is still room for development.

“Edgard Zayas said he got a little lost when he got on the lead,” Cox said. “He’s still learning — only two runs. But he was able to gallop out well and show he can maybe handle more ground. So he’s going to get his chance.”

Edgard Zayas, currently third in the standings at Gulfstream’s Championship Meet, will ride Easterly. Zayas has been highly productive with Cox over the past year, winning six of 14 starts together while finishing in the money 12 times.

The jockey, a nine-time Gulfstream Park riding champion, has three mounts for Cox on Louisiana Derby day and none at Gulfstream, where he has been a fixture before announcing plans to move his tack permanently to New York after the meet.

Autobahn enters off an even more visually decisive maiden score Feb. 21 at Gulfstream. The colt swept five wide on the far turn before drawing away to win by 4 3/4 lengths while covering 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s always been a pretty good worker,” Cox said. “We started him short and then stretched him out a little bit more, and then he was able to put it all together going the mile and an eighth. I don’t know how strong the race was, but I like the way he did it.”

Cox believes the colt’s grinding style suggests the added distance of the Louisiana Derby should suit him.

“He’s another one that should be able to handle the mile and three-sixteenths,” Cox said.

Marcelino Pedroza Jr. has the mount aboard Autobahn.

“I’m excited to see where he takes us,” Cox said of Easterly — a sentiment that could apply equally to both members of his Louisiana Derby duo.

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 154th Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 113th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 20, 2025 through March 22, 2026. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.