Covfefe Gears Up for Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs

LNJ Foxwoods' grade 1 winner Covfefe is set for the Sept. 21, $125,000 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs—likely her final start of the year in advance of the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Trained by Brad Cox, the strikingly fast 3-year-old sprinter has recorded back-to-back five-furlong bullet workouts as she blazes her path into the Dogwood. The bay filly by Into Mischief  cruised five furlongs in :59 2/5 at 5:30 a.m. EDT Sept. 13 beneath the Twin Spires. That work followed one in :59 flat Sept. 6.

"Our goal was to get Covfefe a grade 1 win and we were able to do just that," said Cox, referencing the filly's Aug. 3 Longines Test (G1) victory. "She came back from the race quicker than we originally anticipated. It was such an awesome race that afternoon with two great fillies battling down the lane.

"She's come to Churchill and worked fantastic into the race. This race fits well on the calendar and we don't have to ship her."

Covfefe is expected to be the heavy favorite in the seven-furlong contest for 3-year-old fillies. Prior to Covfefe's hard-fought victory over Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress in the Test at Saratoga Race Course, she smashed the six-furlong track record at Pimlico Race Course by winning the May 17 Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) by 8 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:07.70.

Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan will have the call on Covfefe in the Dogwood.

The Dogwood is the featured event on next Saturday's 11-race program. The race also is expected to include Brereton Jones' Istan Council and Allied Racing Stable's Free Cover. Entries will be drawn Wednesday.

Trainer Brad Cox said Sept. 14 that Rupp Racing's Ohio Derby (G3) winner Owendale will make his next start in the Sept. 29, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park. Owendale breezed five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 Saturday morning in company with stakes winner Pioneer Spirit.