Dual Champion Covfefe Retired From Racing

Dual champion and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Covfefe, one of the fastest one-turn females in years, has been retired. The daughter of Into Mischief  is owned by LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nanci, and Jaime Roth), was trained by Brad Cox, and was bred by Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds.

The 4-year-old filly, who was named champion female sprinter and champion 3-year-old filly for 2019, will be bred to Constitution , who ranked second on the 2019 first-crop sire list, and will reside at Gainesway Farm.

"We were left in awe of Covfefe's accomplishments as a 3-year-old," said Jaime Roth. "To be named the first dual female 3-year-old champion since Rachel Alexandra was an honor. Covfefe is the epitome of why one gets into the game and did everything we could ask for as a racehorse.

"As LNJ Foxwoods is primarily a breeding operation, my family has now chosen to focus on the next stage of her career," she said. "She has given us some of the most incredible moments of our lives and we look forward to campaigning her offspring in the near future."

Out of the Unbridled mare Antics, a granddaughter of champion and blue hen mare Althea, Covfefe was purchased for $250,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale (sold by Gainesway, agent) by Alex Solis II and Jason Litt of Solis/Litt Bloodstock.

Named for an errant tweet by President Donald Trump, Covfefe drew plenty of attention due to her name, but her brilliance drew bigger raves. She broke her maiden at first asking at Churchill Downs Sept. 16, 2018 by 9 1/4 lengths. She then ran fourth behind eventual juvenile filly champion Jaywalk in the grade 1 Frizette Stakes.

At 3 she won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland and turned the racing industry on its ear with an 8 1/2-length win in Pimlico Race Course's Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (G3). The filly got the six furlongs in 1:07.70, taking more than a second off the 29-year-old track mark.

"I'll never forget standing in the grandstand, looking at the fractions, and thinking ... and then listening to Dave Rodman's call of the race. I think he used the term 'super filly,'" Cox said. "It was amazing to watch."

Following an uncharacteristic third-place effort in Churchill Downs' Roxelana Stakes in June, she turned up the heat again, defeating Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress in Saratoga Race Course's seven-furlong Test Stakes (G1).

"She did all of her preliminary training at Churchill and we put her on the plane four days before the race," Cox said. "I was pretty confident we were going to get an 'A' effort out of her. For her to win was no shock at all, because, again, she's an amazing talent."

A leg-stretching effort in the seven-furlong Dogwood Stakes Sept. 21—which resulted in an eight-length score—set her up for the coup de grace in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) where she fought off the rallying Bellafina to win by a half-length. That score, along with a sophomore filly division without a standout in the two-turn affairs, paved the way to the pair of Eclipse Awards.

"I feel privileged to have trained a dual champion," said Cox. "She has been brilliant since day one. Her entire campaign enamored me, but the performance that stands out was her Miss Preakness Stakes. We are sad to see her go but glad she is retiring 100% sound. I support the Roths' decision entirely and look forward to having the opportunity to train her progeny."

"We are honored to have Covfefe retire to Gainesway Farm," said Antony Beck. "We appreciate the support of the Roth family in entrusting us with their champion."

Covfefe notched a 6-0-1 record from eight starts and earned $1,110,025.