FAIR GROUNDS: BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES CHAMP BRITISH IDIOM GETS BACK TO WORK

By Grant LaGrange —-

Coming off a career-best year in 2019, trainer Brad Cox appears loaded for 2020

New Orleans (January 1, 2020) – Coming off a monster year in which his stable runners earned a career-best $17,547,123, trainer Brad Cox is methodically plotting a course to even more success in 2020.

Fair Grounds’ two-time defending training champ won ten fewer races in 2019 (233) than he did in 2018 (243), but he ended the campaign with a pair of Breeders’ Cup victories with likely Eclipse Champions in Covfefe, who took the Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), and Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group LLC, Madaket Stables LLC and Bethlehem Stables LLC’s British Idiom who captured the Juvenile Fillies (G1).

As the 5/2 second choice, British Idiom ran down the favored Donna Veloce late in the stretch to capture her second Grade 1 in what was a perfect three-for-three season ($1,381,250). Purchased for just $40,000 as a Fasig-Tipton October yearling, the daughter of Flashback recently recorded her first workout since that signature victory for team Cox, logging an easy three furlongs in: 37.60 at Fair Grounds (12-29-19).

“She looked good,” Cox said. “First work back from the Breeders’ Cup and we’ll point for the Rachael Alexandra Stakes (G2 on Feb. 15). We’ll try to take the same path as Monomoy Girl did and hope for the best. Monomoy Girl could be a bit feisty at times but British Idiom is super laid back. She’s really easy to train. Nothing sticks out about her attitude and the way she does things She just does what she needs and is an easy filly to handle.

“We’ll get her back on the work tab consistently.” Cox said of his newly turned 3-year-old filly. “Keep her happy and healthy and working once a week and we’ll see how things work out.”

In 2018, Monomoy Girl parlayed a win in the Rachel Alexandra into subsequent victories in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland, the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, the Acorn (G1), the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga and eventually the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) en route to an Eclipse Award as Champion 3-year-old filly.

While British Idiom is just getting started, Monomoy Girl, who missed the entire 2019 season for virtually the same ownership group as her understudy, is on the slow road back. According to Cox, she’s in Ocala galloping and should return to the his shedrow soon.

In other Brad Cox stable news…

Juddmonte Farms Inc.’s Taraz — Two wins from two career starts, ultra-impressive winner of Letellier Stakes at Fair Grounds on December 21.

“She’ll breeze this weekend,” Cox said. “No real plans right now. The most likely spot would be the Silverbulletday (January 18 at Fair Grounds). With her I think the sky is the limit. She trains so professionally and has impressed us ever since we’ve had her. She’s never let us down in the mornings and obviously in her first two starts she has been ultra-impressive. I think she’s special. The bottom line is we have to keep her healthy. She’s a huge filly but it’s her athleticism that has impressed me the most. It’s a God given gift that she has with how big she is and how athletic she is. She does everything so easy and I think the talent is there and I can’t wait to see what the future holds with her.”
Madaket Stables LLC, Dubb, Michael and Doheny Racing Stable’s Mr. Monomoy — Half-brother to Monomoy Girl, second in a two-turn allowance at Fair Grounds last out.

“Hopefully we’ll get a work in for him this weekend. Cox said. “There’s supposed to be some rain but as of now we’re going to aim for the Lecomte (G3) on January 18 and try to get some Kentucky Derby points right off the bat.”

Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stable LLC’s Warrior’s Charge – Unraced since a fourth in the Preakness (G1), recently returned to score a two-turn allowance victory over the highly regarded Gun It.

“The allowance race was exactly what we want it,” Cox said. “I score it a ten out of ten. He will breeze (for the first time since) this weekend. “We have three options we are looking at with him – the Louisiana Stakes ($100,000 on 1-18 at Fair Grounds), the Fifth Seasons ($100,000 on 1-25 at Oaklawn) or we can wait for the Razorback (G3, $500,000 on 2-17 at Oaklawn).”

Rupp Racing’s Owendale — Third in Clark Stakes presented by Norton Healthcare (G1), third in 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1).

“He’s getting a freshening right now,” Cox said. “He’s in Kentucky right now and he will get back in training on February 1. We don’t have any Grade I’s marked on the calendar for him yet. We’ll find a spot for him somewhere this spring and see how he is and work from there.”

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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 is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global
Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 148th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 107th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 28, 2019 through March 29, 2020. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.