Trainer Brad Cox places three horses in Kentucky Derby qualifying stakes races at Fair Grounds

A thoroughbred racehorse trainer from Louisville, Kentucky, placed three horses at the top of two Kentucky Derby qualifier races on a wet, muggy Sunday evening at the Fair Grounds.

Brad Cox’s horse Instant Coffee, a 3-year-old brown colt, took first place in the Lecomte States, earning 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. And in the Silverbulletday Stakes, his 3-year-old filly The Alys Look edged out the betting-favorite Chop Chop for first.

Lecomte Stakes

Instant Coffee trailed for most of the Lecomte Stakes, before fanning wide to the right and accelerating to the front of the six-horse pack. His final time was 1:45:12.

“That was the style, man,” jockey Luis Saez said. “I’m pretty grateful to be a part of this magnificent horse. He’s not a big colt. He’s a little colt, but he has big power.”

Cox said that there’s a “strong possibility” that Instant Coffee will race in the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 18 at the Fair Grounds. He said the horse likes the 1 1/16-mile race. The longer stretch, plus the larger field of horses, suit his patient, steady running style.

“It’s always tough when these horses don’t have a lot of early speed,” Cox said. “He does not, obviously. He breaks and kind of settles early and then finishes up. That’s always a little bit of a concern, given the fact that, you know, you want horses to determine whether they’re going to lead in the race.

“(The longer race) is probably a little bit easier on a horse like that, that running style, and they last longer. So I’m pretty proud of how honest he is and how intelligent he is.”

Silverbulletday Stakes

The Alys Look held off a late push from betting-favorite Chop Chop to narrowly finish in first place of the Silverbulletday Stakes at 1:43:55. Chop Chop, steered by jockey Florent Geroux, broke out to the right on the last leg of the one-mile, 70-yard race, but couldn’t catch The Alys Look and Saez, her jockey.

With the win, The Alys Look earned 10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. And with the second-place finish, Chop Chop scored four.

“That was the plan, for her to break out from there, and she did,” Saez said. “We were in a great spot. When we came to the top of the stretch, she didn’t want to let the other one get by her. She was trying pretty hard, so that was great.”

“I think Chop Chop needed to race a little,” Cox said. “She needed to freshen up a little bit since the Breeder’s Cup, but did train well. Good to get some confidence to run well. She’s a good filly. She really showed some determination and grit the last six tenths of a mile today.”