Poised for Repeat Titles, Cox Will Saddle Morning Line Favorites in Louisiana Derby and Fair Grounds Oaks
New Orleans, La (March 20, 2025) – With the morning line favorites in both the $1 million TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) and $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), trainer Brad Cox is in a good position to repeat last year’s success when the barn sent out the winner in both races with Catching Freedom and Tarifa.
Cox has two entered in this year’s local derby who will be running for their share of the 200 Derby qualifying points up for grabs.
Though WinStar Farms and CHC Inc’s John Hancock is the Louisiana Derby morning line favorite, at 7-2 he is a lukewarm one. It makes sense as the undefeated Constitution colt has only raced twice. On the other hand, his stablemate Instant Replay has five races of foundation and seasoning and was tabbed as the 6-1 fourth choice.
“We feel they both deserve a shot at getting to the Kentucky Derby,” Cox said. “We’ve been fortunate to win this race twice and in two different ways. Wells Bayou on the front end and coming from well off the pace with Catching Freedom. The track tends to play fair, and our colts each have a different running style. We feel we’re set up with two big opportunities.”
Leading at every call in his first two races, John Hancock has proven natural gate speed. But the Constitution colt also has the ability to battle, dig in, and fight off bids going two turns, as he impressively held Owen Almighty at bay in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs.
“He’s a nice horse,” Cox said. “Lightly raced but he handled a mile and a sixteenth the first time he tried it and we’re hoping he can carry his speed further. I think he can get the distance. There’s other speed in the race. We’re drawn to the inside. We hope he gets in a good position and clears off from the field late.”
Gary and Mary West’s Instant Replay proved his merit coming from last to run down Furio in a local allowance. Furio, who is entered in the Louisiana Derby for Joe Sharp, was loose on the lead and Instant Replay overcame what many handicappers have labeled as a speed-favoring track.
“(Instant Replay) had a big run here last month and he came out of the race in great shape,” Cox said. “It made sense to point at the Louisiana Derby with the performance that he put over this racetrack. I’ve really liked how he’s looked physically since the race. He sets up off the pace, so if there’s a pace meltdown, hopefully he’s the one that picks it up.”
The Louisiana Derby is set as the finale on Saturday’s 12-race card.
In the Fair Grounds Oaks, Godolphin’s Good Cheer is clearly the one to beat. Made 4-5 in the morning line, the last-out winner of the Rachel Alexandra by open lengths will likely go off at a shorter price than that.
The Medaglia d’Oro filly proved untouchable as a 2-year-old, winning her four freshman starts by a combined 32 1/4 lengths, including the Golden Rod (G2) and the Rags to Riches last fall at Churchill Downs. Although she’s been visually much the best in all her races, the figures Good Cheer has earned could tell a story that she has not stepped forward as a 3-year-old.
“I am a figures guy and I hear that, but with her, that doesn’t concern me,” Cox said. “She’s been dominant. It’s not like anyone’s come close to her. When you talk about an eye test, when she’s been asked to quicken, she’s really separated herself. She’s beat who we’ve asked her to run against and she’s done it the right way. She’s just different. The word I always use is class. She’s very intelligent. It’s hard to explain if you’re not around horses all the time, but she’s just different, mentally. Physically, she doesn’t blow you away.”
Beginning with Bonny South in 2020, Cox has won the Fair Grounds Oaks three times. Good Cheer looks poised to add a fourth title for the barn on Saturday.
The Fair Grounds Oaks is slated as race 11. First post on Louisiana Derby Day is noon CT.
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.
