Brad Cox Earns Richest Preakness Stakes Trainer Bonus

May 22, 2019

BALTIMORE – 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 and Warrior’s Charge in the 144^th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18, won by War of Will.

On the May 17 Black-Eyed Susan Day card, Cox won the $150,000 Adena Springs Miss Preakness (G3) with Covfefe in six-furlong track-record time of 1:07.70, captured the $150,000 Caplan Brothers Glass Allaire duPont Distaff (G3) with Mylady Curlin, and was second with Ulele in the $250,000 Xpressbet Black-Eyed Susan (G2).

Asmussen’s 33 points earned him a $25,000 bonus for second. He picked up wins in the historic $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3) May 17 with Tenfold and $150,000 ClearSpan Maryland Sprint (G3) with New York Central May 18. Also on the Preakness program, he was second in the $100,000 Sir Barton with Tone Broke, fourth in the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) with Pyron, and fifth in both the $1.65 million Preakness with Laughing Fox and $100,000 James W. Murphy with War Film.

Fair Hill (Md.) 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 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).

About Pimlico Race Course

Legendary Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the Middle Jewel in horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed, American Pharoah and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

The Stronach Group is North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, home of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@marylandracing.com or call 954.658.7156.