Covfefe Trumps Rivals in BC Filly and Mare Sprint

LNJ Foxwoods' Covfefe added to a nearly flawless season Nov. 2 when she held off a late charge from Bellafina to post a three-quarter-length victory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

After tracking in third early behind dueling leaders Heavenhasmynikki and Danuska's My Girl through a quarter-mile in :22.13, Covfefe and jockey Joel Rosario launched a sustained three-wide move in the turn to open a clear advantage turning for home. The daughter of Into Mischief  then held sway as Santa Anita Oaks (G1) winner Bellafina finished well, giving 3-year-old fillies the exacta.

In winning a third consecutive stakes at seven furlongs, Covfefe claimed her fifth win in six starts this season and sixth win in eight career starts. Two starts back, she prevailed against Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress in the Longines Test Stakes (G1). She then prepped for the Breeders' Cup with an eight-length romp in the Sept. 21 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs, where she smashed the stakes record when she finished in 1:20.51.

Covfefe is trained by Brad Cox, who conditioned last year's champion 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl. Covfefe figures to be in the mix for this year's honor in that division and the female sprinter division.

"She's a champion, hopefully. I feel like championship honors were on the line for champion filly and mare sprinter. I hope she locked that up," said Cox, who earned his third Breeders' Cup win. "Two grade 1s, two very prestigious races. She overcame a lot today, too. I know this race hasn't been around a long, long time, but I think eight Test winners maybe have tried this and not been able to break through."

Sent off the 3-2 favorite, Covfefe paid $5, $3.60, and $3, and Bellafina returned $5 and $3.60. Late-running Dawn the Destroyer earned a graded stakes-placing for a fourth straight race when she rallied for third, 7 3/4 lengths behind Bellafina, paying $6.60 to show. Second choice Come Dancing, winner of the Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1), finished sixth.

Covfefe completed seven furlongs on a fast track in 1:22.40. Cox, who sent out British Idiom to victory Friday in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and won last year's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) with Monomoy Girl, said he was confident in his filly.

"I thought there was no shot of her not running her race. I knew she was going to run her race," Cox said after Covfefe earned her first win against older runners. "You just stay optimistic and know your horse is doing well, and the rest will take care of itself."

Rosario, who earned his 10th Breeders' Cup win, said Covfefe was comfortable waiting inside early behind the early leaders before making her winning move in the turn.

"Coming out of the '1' hole, there were a couple horses that showed more speed out of there," Rosario said. "I was able to work my way out and get her in the clear. After that, she did all the work."

Javier Castellano, aboard Come Dancing, said the daughter of Malibu Moon  didn't like the surface.

Bred in Kentucky by Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds, Covfefe is out of the unraced Unbridled mare Antics, who boasts six winners from as many starters, including Albiano, a grade 2 winner in Japan, and Going Day, who is stakes-placed in France. Out of the stakes-winning Danzig mare Aurora, Antics is a half sister to grade 1 winner and sire Arch, grade 1 winner Acoma, and United Arab Emirates Horse of the Year Festival of Light.

Covfefe was purchased for $250,000 by Solis/Litt from the Gainesway consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The victory is another big one for LNJ Foxwoods, the Roth family's stable that also owns a share of Country House, who was elevated to first in this year's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Video: Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1)