"It was a very good day," said Trace Messina, Keeneland assistant to trainer Brad Cox, in a bit of understatement the morning of April 5.
The Cox barn captured three of the five graded stakes on the April 4 program, highlighted by the 11-length victory by Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado in the $1,250,000 Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
"They are all doing good this morning and will most likely ship to Churchill Downs tomorrow," Messina said of Further Ado, Madison Stakes (G1) winner Eclatant, and Commonwealth (G3) winner Saudi Crown.
The three victories moved Cox's Keeneland win total to 197—eighth all time—and boosted his stakes-winning tally to 42, fifth-best all time at the Lexington track.
"I remember in 2020 at Fair Grounds, we won the Muniz Memorial Classic with Factor This, the (Fair Grounds) Oaks with Bonny South and the (Louisiana) Derby with Wells Bayou," Cox said via text. "Not sure if we have done it another time."
Expected to join Further Ado and the Cox team at Churchill Downs April 6 is Florida Derby (G1) winner Commandment for Wathnan Racing. Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort, owned by St. Elias Stable and Starlight Racing, is already at Churchill, awaiting his expected run in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1).
In addition to his three Kentucky Derby hopefuls, Cox figures to have at least two entrants in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 1: Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) winner Life of Joy and Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Prom Queen.
Stonestreet Stables' Eclatant also could return to the races on Derby Day in the $1 million Derby City Distaff (G1). FMQ Stables' Saudi Crown could target the $1 million Churchill Downs (G1) the same day.
