HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Kueber Racing LLC’s Coach collected her second straight win and gave trainer Brad Cox his second straight victory in the $150,000 Pippin Stakes with her front-running victory in Saturday’s one-mile race. Cox won last year’s Pippin with Getridofwhatailesu.
Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Coach, the 8-5 favorite, took command soon after the break and led the field through opening fractions of :23 2/5 and :47 3/5 for the first half mile. Miss Bigly, the 9-5 favorite, moved up from third to grab the lead by head around the turn, but the winner fought back and drew off to win by three lengths in a final time of 1:37 2/5 over a sloppy track. W W Fitzy was third.
“I thought, given the track condition, Ricardo (Santana Jr.), obviously, did a fantastic job of getting her involved,” Cox said when reached by phone after the race. “Right away, I loved the position she was in. Once they turned up the backside, she’s a hard-trying filly. I was pretty confident that she would kick on from there and she responded well. She did a fantastic job. She was ready to roll and we’re very proud of her.”
Coach, a 4-year-old Commissioner filly who was wheeling back after winning an allowance race at Oaklawn Dec. 17, improved her record to 5-1-2 in 10 career starts and has now earned $387,840. She returned $5.20, $2.80 and $2.60.
Live racing resumes Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. first post.
Stakes Quotes:
Winning trainer Brad Cox, Coach: “I thought, given the track condition, Ricardo (Santana Jr.), obviously, did a fantastic job of getting her involved. Right away, I loved the position she was in. Once they turned up the backside, she’s a hard-trying filly. I was pretty confident that she would kick on from there and she responded well. She did a fantastic job. She was ready to roll and we’re very proud of her.”
Winning jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., Coach.: “She improved today a lot. I had a lot of horse on the lead. She relaxed really well today, too. I didn’t want to be on the rail and when I saw (Miss Bigly) go inside, that’s where I wanted to be. She was much the best today.”
Jockey Martin Garcia, second on Miss Bigly: “I had a really good position and was right behind the speed and that’s where she likes it. She ran her race.”
Trainer Phil D’Amato, second with Miss Bigly: “I just think we got outrun today. That’s going to happen. I thought the other filly was the best.”
Oaklawn Press Release
Photo: Coach (Coady Photography)
