Cox Earns Top Payout in MJC Trainer Bonus Program
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Brad Cox poses with the trophy after winning the Allaire DuPont Distaff with Mylady Curlin at Pimlico Race Course
Brad Cox edged Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen to claim the top prize in the Maryland Jockey Club's $100,000 bonus program offered to trainers for their participation in stakes races over Preakness weekend at Pimlico Race Course, the Maryland Jockey Club announced May 22.
Cox led the way with 36 points, three more than two-time defending champion Asmussen, to earn a $50,000 bonus. In his Triple Crown race debut, Cox ran third and fourth, respectively, with Owendale and Warrior's Charge in the 144th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18, won by War of Will.
On the May 17 Black-Eyed Susan Day card, Cox won the Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) with Covfefe in a six-furlong track-record time of 1:07.70, captured the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) with Mylady Curlin, and was second with Ulele in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2).
Asmussen's 33 points earned him a $25,000 bonus for second. He picked up wins in the May 17 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) with Tenfold and the May 18 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3) with New York Central. Also on the Preakness program, he was second in the Sir Barton Stakes with Tone Broke, fourth in the Chick Lang Stakes (G3) with Pyron, and fifth in both the $1.5 million Preakness with Laughing Fox and James W. Murphy Stakes with War Film.
Fair Hill Training Center-based Graham Motion was third with 32 points, earning a bonus of $12,000. The other top finishers were Todd Pletcher (29 points, $7,000), Arnaud Delacour (24 points, $4,000), and Mike Trombetta (nine points, $2,000).
To be eligible, trainers had to run a minimum of five horses in the 16 stakes races offered Preakness weekend. Points were accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three), and having a starter (one) among the 16 stakes—nine graded—worth $3.95 million in purses.
Bonus money totaling $50,000 also was offered for trainers having the most points in non-stakes races during Preakness weekend, with points accumulated in similar fashion. Ron Moquett finished first with 20 points, earning the top bonus of $25,000.
Also winning bonus money were Motion (18 points, $10,000), Jeremiah O'Dwyer (17 points, $7,500), Jeremiah Englehart (16 points, $4,000), Pletcher (15 points, $2,500), and Damon Dilodovico (11 points, $1,000).