MD-Based Cox Eyes First Maryland Million Win

Kenny Cox took out his trainer's license in 1987, the year after the Maryland Million was launched. Though based in Maryland throughout his career, which includes a pair of state meet titles and several stakes winners led by Flaming Emperor, he has yet to win a stakes on Maryland Million day. Cox is hoping his luck will change this year that this year in the Oct. 23 $150,000 Maryland Million Classic Stakes at Laurel Park, with long shot Ain't Da Beer Cold, a 3-year-old gelding owned by Matt Spencer, Cox's wife Kelly Jo, and Charlie Bonuccelli. The 1 1/8-mile Classic for 3-year-olds and up headlines a 12-race card featuring eight stakes and four starter stakes on 'Maryland's Day at the Races,' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state. On paper, Ain't Da Beer Cold was well-beaten in his only two starts this year, both sprints, the most recent coming Sept. 17 at Laurel. Listed at 20-1 on the morning line, he didn't open his sophomore season until Aug. 14 at historic Pimlico Race Course in a similar conditioned allowance, contested at six furlongs. Cox, a native of Gallupville, Md., near old Bowie Race Course, delved deeper into Ain't Da Beer Cold's form and noted his success the only two times the son of Freedom Child went a route of ground, winning an open allowance optional claiming last November and being beaten a nose in the Howard County Stakes a month later, both going 1 1/16 miles at Laurel. "It's not out of the question this horse could run real big in the Classic, actually," Cox said. "He's really training good. He's a route horse and last time it was a very disappointing effort the way he got eased. But, he's a horse that doesn't want dirt in his face. He kind of got some dirt and backed out. We did some bloodwork and he had some issues going on, and we addressed those. "He worked the other day and (jockey) Angel (Cruz) came and worked him. I said if this horse works decent, then we'll run him in the Classic," he added. "He's never worked as good as he did (that day) in his entire career that I've had him, even as a baby when he was in his best form." Ain't Da Beer Cold, bred by Spencer and Kelly Jo Cox, stumbled at the start of last year's Maryland Million Nursery and lost all chance, finishing eighth. Cruz has been enlisted to ride in the Classic from post 5. "It would be big for everyone. This is what Maryland's about. It's the day. I've never really had live chances going in like I think I do this weekend so I'm pretty excited," Cox said. "I grew up 10 minutes from Bowie. The owner (Bonuccelli), he grew up in Bowie, so it's a big deal for us to be there and to have real live chance going into it. Non Stop Stable's Tappin Cat, exiting his eighth career victory and first in a stakes, will put his three-race win streak on the line in the Classic, where he is the 6-5 program favorite. The 5-year-old Tritap gelding has been a model of consistency, finishing third or better in 20 of 27 lifetime starts and sitting less than $800 shy of $400,000 in purse earnings. Having sprinted last summer and into the spring, Tappin Cat has thrived since being stretched out. In five straight starts at a mile or longer, Tappin Cat ran second twice before launching his current stretch of wins, capped by a victory in the Sept. 25 DTHA Governor's Day Handicap at Delaware Park. Cash is King and LC Racing's Dream Big Dreams will be making his stakes debut and facing elders in the Classic. Trained by Brittany Russell, the 3-year-old son of Bandbox was a rallying half-length winner last out in a 1 1/16-mile open allowance over older horses Sept. 25 at Laurel.