Cox looks to sweep late double

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs horsemen get a lot done in the dark, particularly at this time of year. Morning training starts with lights illuminated, and the last few races of any given card also are run under lights, owing partly to the changing of clocks back to Eastern Standard Time.

Brad Cox is one of the countless trainers who works well beyond the parameters of sunup to sundown, and once again his efforts have paid off handsomely. The Cox stable has set a higher bar for itself for the sixth straight year, with 2019 earnings standing just shy of the $16 million threshold, good for fourth nationally, through last weekend.

The barn’s hours of operation will be stretched Thursday, when Cox is represented by major contenders in the late double on a 10-race Churchill card that starts at 1 p.m. Eastern. He’ll be looking to send his backers into a good night when he saddles Irish Mischief in race 9 and the uncoupled duo of Hieronymus and Tecumseh’s War in race 10.

Irish Mischief surely will be favored when she faces nine other fillies and mares in a $99,000 seven-furlong race governed by a two-other-than condition and a $62,500 claiming option. The 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief comes favorably drawn in post 9 with Florent Geroux to ride.

After dominating a first-level allowance at Ellis Park in late July, Irish Mischief was second as the favorite in the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks, then did a lot of the upfront dirty work in the Grade 2 Raven Run last month at Keeneland before fading to fourth.

Irish Mischief will carry saddletowel No. 1A and will be coupled for wagering purposes with La Femme Royal. Ten Strike Racing has ownership in both.

Favoritism appears very much up for grabs in the finale, a $97,000 first-level route that is scheduled for turf with a full field of 10 2-year-olds. Hieronymus and Tecumseh’s War both are making their second start after winning debuts, and they’re joined by others with similar promise, including Perfect Star, Natural Power, Street Ready, and Epitomize.

In all, three allowances are carded Thursday, when a high of 60 and the possibility of showers are forecast. Race 7 is a $97,000 first-level allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs, with Uncapped and Declined among the top threats, assuming it stays on the grass as scheduled.