Cox Confirms Caddo River for Kentucky Derby Start

After being on the fence to enter the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Arkansas Derby (G1) runner-up Caddo River  is a go for the 147th Run for the Roses, trainer Brad Cox said April 20.

Cox said the decision is based both on the longtime interest of owner John Ed Anthony of Shortleaf Stable to win the Derby and how the homebred colt has done since Oaklawn Park's signature race April 10. He will have a weekend workout to prepare for the May 1 Derby. 

"We've had enough time to see him" since the Arkansas Derby, Cox told reporters at Churchill Downs. "Ultimately, we need to see what he does on Saturday morning breezing. We're scheduled, penciled in for Saturday morning. As long as he breezes well and bounces out of it Sunday in good order, you know, we would definitely plan on entering. That's basically what we're looking at right now."

The best Derby finish for Anthony, through his prior stable name of Loblolly Stable, was Prairie Bayou's second in 1993, which was Anthony's sixth try and last until now. Anthony—who won the Preakness Stakes (G1) twice, including with Prairie Bayou, and the Belmont Stakes (G1) once—longs for a Derby, Cox said. 

"That's what he told me," Cox said. "He's been trying to win the Derby for 50 years, and he's won the Preakness twice. So, you know, winning the Preakness doesn't really appeal to him quite as much as the Derby. It's obviously, you know, to some people it's the No. 1 race in America and in the world … I mean he obviously has a voice and, you know, he has a lot of say in what's going on. But, you know, he's told me, you know, you watch the horse and if you feel he's doing well, we'll take a chance. And right now we're happy with the way he came out of the Arkansas Derby."

Cox said no decision on a jockey has been made, but he expects to have that discussion with Anthony in the next couple of days.

"We've got some guys in mind," Cox said.

Cox said the weekend work—which will be a week ahead of the classic—would be "probably nothing super flashy, back in three weeks and stuff. Just a maintenance work."

Caddo River, a son of Hard Spun   out of the Congrats   mare Pangburn , has two wins in six lifetime starts with three runner-up finishes. He broke his maiden in a 9 1/2-length frontrunning romp at Churchill in November.

"He's solid," Cox said. "He's a frontrunner," something Cox said he'd anticipate wouldn't be changed in the Derby.

Caddo River would "probably be somewhat forwardly placed, be aggressive with him the first part like we were in the Arkansas Derby. So that would be our tactics. You know, see if he can get around there on the lead going a mile and a quarter."