BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 5, 2022

Brad Cox

Keeneland Racecourse

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Just take us through her prep for this leading up to the Breeders' Cup and how you thought -- a big price but that she would be able to pull this off.

BRAD COX: She ran really well in the prep here, in Franklin -- I say it's the prep, to be honest with you. There really wasn't a lot of intent on running in the Breeders' Cup unless she performed well in Franklin. We'd see how she bounced out of it.

She's been a filly that we've had to watch her weight throughout the year. She definitely improved and gotten better, I would say later in the year. The summertime she may have been a little light. Fall come around, she definitely started putting on more weight. She's always moved great. She's very athletic. She's feisty. And she likes being a racehorse, but she's done really well.

And obviously out of the Franklin, there just wasn't a lot of options moving forward. Saw some races in California for like $100,000. Very limited in regards to fillies and mares around one turn on the grass here in North America this time of year.

So I thought, back in 20 days, it's a big ask. She's doing well. She prepared for the Franklin here at Keeneland, and she obviously just stayed here after Franklin for the Breeders' Cup.

THE MODERATOR: Easy to stay here and not have to ship. What were instructions, if at all, to Tyler? Because she broke very sharp.

BRAD COX: The instructions were to break and set off a few.

THE MODERATOR: Best laid plans.

BRAD COX: Absolutely. Once maybe some of the speed, Golden Pal wasn't there. You don't ever take anything that comes easy, especially with the racehorse going five and a half furlongs.

I loved the post the other day. I thought this would get her an opportunity to set off Golden Pal couple others if they want to bounce out of there. She was doing well, popped out of there, was just going. She's always been the type of filly, when you watch the races she can obviously run from off the pace. But if she gets the lead, she's very tough to reel in.

Two back at Prescott, I don't know what happened. I don't watch a lot of races from Prescott but evidently speed was not good that night and it didn't work out for her. She was training extremely well going into that race. I thought we'd just mark it off, come back in the Franklin, worked out. We found ourselves here 20 days later. Glad we took the shot.

THE MODERATOR: You said she's a fighter when she has the lead. Did you have a scare when the filly came up inside of her there was a horse on the outside, knowing she'd battle?

BRAD COX: No doubt, reminded me of her race at Belmont in the Intercontinental, the way she entertained some challenges down the lane, was able to stay on and finish up. You can tell she's got a lot of fight and grit about.

THE MODERATOR: What's next? She's in the sale. We talked to the owners about that. Fingers crossed. They might keep her.

BRAD COX: We'll see how that goes. As to what happens with her, I guess the guy that raises his hand last tomorrow is the one to ask where she goes from here or where she goes starting tomorrow evening.

We're excited what we're able to accomplish with her here. Honestly, we had her stabled at Keeneland last winter. Gave her a break after we bought her.

And I think we worked her four times on the synthetic here at Keeneland. And ran her at a stake at Turf Way. She ran so well, was on synthetic. We were giving her a race. And after that, she was training so well, gave confidence to run her against the boys at Churchill.

She was not in the good part of the turf course that day, total throw-out. Turned our attention toward Intercontinental where she won. And I felt she was a Grade I filly the way she trained last spring. All business. She's very classy to deal with. She's temperamental. But when she puts her game face on, she brings it, bottom line.

THE MODERATOR: She rewarded you and all the owners today. Caravel. Brad Cox.

Q. Perspective on Cyberknife?

BRAD COX: He was fighting back there at the end once he had gotten past. Congratulations to Godolphin. Obviously they're a client of mine as well and they deserve so many Grade I's. They put so much into the game, happy for them. But very proud of cyber knife and his effort, ran a big race, winning race, I know he's going to stand stud next year at spendthrift but I'm hopeful maybe we can get another run into him before breeding season starts. We'll see how it goes and ultimately that will be up to the ownership group.

Q. Did you bet Caravel?

BRAD COX: No, I wish I did.