Cox Wins Preakness Weekend Trainer Bonus

[Wandering Eyes]

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.

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 (Into Mischief) and Warrior’s Charge (Munnings).

On the May 17 Black-Eyed Susan Day card, Cox won the GIII Adena Springs Miss Preakness S. with Covfefe (Into Mischief) in six-furlong track-record time of 1:07.70, captured the GIII Allaire duPont Distaff with Mylady Curlin (Curlin), and was second with Ulele (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GII Xpressbet Black-Eyed Susan S.

Asmussen’s 33 points earned him a $25,000 bonus for second. He picked up wins in the GIII Pimlico Special S. May 17 with Tenfold (Curlin) and GIII Maryland Sprint S. with New York Central (Tapit) May 18.

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 16 stakes races during 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 was also 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).

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