Constitution Colt Makes Statement in Debut for Cox

This column highlights the performances of 3-year-old maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. Tampa Bay Downs Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox landed his second Maiden Watcher in three weeks when first-timer John Hancock graduated with flying colors in a Jan. 8 Tampa Bay Downs maiden special weight. John Hancock, a powerfully built son of Constitution, nearly rewrote the Tampa Bay record books in his debut. He was timed in 1:09.45, four-fifths of a second off the 6-furlong mark at the Oldsmar, Fla., track. Despite hopping at the break, John Hancock torpedoed to the front and blazed uncontested through early fractions of :22.13 and :45.41. Turning for home, the colt showed no signs of wear and tear as he rumbled over the sandy Tampa Bay surface, roaring to the wire on top by three lengths. "That was like riding a machine," said Samy Camacho, who had sat motionless on the colt during the final furlong. "I didn't ask him 100 percent, just a little bit at the quarter pole, and after that, I was on cruise control. "They're going to have fun with him. That horse has a great future." Campaigned by breeder WinStar Farm, where Constitution stands at stud, in partnership with China Horse Club and Siena Farm, the colt appears a promising prospect with Triple Crown season on the horizon. While victorious at six furlongs, Constitution was a grade 1 winner going two turns himself and sired 2020 Travers (G1) hero Tiz the Law. John Hancock's dam, the Freud mare Scribbling Sarah, was a winner of only one race herself but produced grade 1 winner Speech from her second foal. A daughter of Mr Speaker, Speech broke her maiden in her second start at 2 and secured a slot in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 3 following a top-level score in the Ashland Stakes (G1) and runner-up finishes in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3). She finished third in the Kentucky Oaks and retired two starts later with earnings of $497,090.