It would not be a big weekend of stakes action at Churchill Downs without trainer Brad Cox. Although he will be represented in only three of the 11 stakes totaling $3.85 million in purses June 29-30, the Eclipse Award-winning trainer still holds a strong hand that emphasizes quality over quantity.
"I think we're set up to have a big weekend," Cox said. "I'm fortunate to be part of three big races."
Cox's big horse of the weekend is Godolphin's First Mission, who is taking a pivotal step on the road to the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar by racing in the $1 million Stephen Foster (G1).
"I think he's one of the top horses in the division, there's no doubt," Cox said. "I thought he was a grade 1 horse for a long time, and he's going to get his opportunity Saturday."
Winning Saturday would give First Mission an automatic berth in the $6 million Classic thanks to the Breeders' Cup's "Win and You're In" program and set him up for confrontations down the road with some of the country's best horses.
"I see National Treasure as the leader of the division, he deserves to be," Cox said of the three-time grade 1 winner. "I'm looking forward, hopefully, to hooking up with him at some point down the road if everything goes well on Saturday."
Cox has been down the Classic trail several times, breaking through in 2021 with Horse of the Year Knicks Go . Cox will use the blueprint of Knicks Go's Classic-winning journey to guide First Mission through the second half of the year.
Following a rough race in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Cox used the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) as a confidence booster for Knicks Go. He followed up with victories in the Whitney (G1) and Lukas Classic (G3) before ultimately taking the $6 million prize.
First Mission does not need a confidence booster, given his two-race win streak and victory May 3 in the Alysheba Stakes (G2). Therefore, the son of Street Sense has a grade 1 replacement for the Cornhusker before joining the Knicks Go path.
"If all was to go well (in the Stephen Foster), the Whitney would be a logical spot," Cox said.
Cox said he felt First Mission will likely need a race between the Aug. 3 Whitney and Breeders' Cup. He referenced White Abarrio skipping a prep race between the two last year as a possible path, but would lean more toward a race like the Lukas Classic (G2).
"I'd probably bring him back to Churchill after Saratoga," Cox said. "We'll figure out if we need a race or not. If we did, I wouldn't want to ship him very far with ultimately having to go out to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup."
The Breeders' Cup was also held at Del Mar when Knicks Go won it. Cox said he knew early on in the year that Del Mar would be beneficial to Knicks Go's running style to help him get the 1 1/4-mile distance, but has no doubt about First Mission's ability to handle 10 furlongs.
"(First Mission) does have tactical speed and can put himself in the race," Cox said. "I am really confident, based off pedigree and the way he's able to listen to his rider and be forwardly placed, he should be able to handle a mile and a quarter."
Zozos' End of Year Goal Uncertain As He returns to One-Turn Mile
While First Mission's eyes are clearly set on the Breeders' Cup, the same could not be said for Barry and Joni Butzow's Zozos, who races Sunday in the $300,000 Hanshin Stakes.
The 5-year-old son of Munnings seems to have found his niche at the mile distance, for which he is 3-for-4. However, that defeat was a lackluster fifth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park while going around two turns.
One-mile races at Churchill Downs are conducted around one turn and have provided some of Zozos' best performances, victories in the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes and Ack Ack Stakes (G3) last season.
"I do think he likes the one-turn mile. I think his race here in the Knicks Go was his best race to date," Cox said. "I'm not certain this horse likes two turns based off what he showed us in the Dirt Mile."
Cox said he was uncertain on what that means for Zozos' end-of-the-year goals, but said a path that leads to the one-turn Cigar Mile (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack in would be under consideration.
As far as what Cox expects on Sunday: "I think you're going to get a big effort from him. He seems to be doing well, and he likes Churchill."
Firmer Ground Could Get Heavenly Sunday Back to Winner'S Circle
Earlier in the card Sunday, Cox will saddle Miacomet Farm's Heavenly Sunday in the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes. A two-time graded stakes winner last year at age 3, the Candy Ride filly is winless in two starts at 4 but has been close each time.
"She's been right there, I'm hoping she'll have a little bit firmer turf than she had in her last two runs," Cox said. "I do think she can handle a mile and an eighth."
Heavenly Sunday prompted the pace last time out in the June 2 Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) and finished second, 1 3/4 lengths behind the Chad Brown-trained Delahaye.
"I thought her last race was really good, she was just second best," Cox said. "Our filly wasn't traveling as well as I would have liked going into the far turn. She showed her class to stay up for second. If she gets firm turf, it could be a better effort for her."
