After particular person graded stakes wins Oct. 19, jockey Luan Machado and coach Brad Cox teamed as much as cap a stellar weekend at Keeneland Oct. 20 as Selective’s Chop Chop introduced them their second graded victory within the $296,738 Dowager Stakes (G3T).
Machado, winner of 4 races over the 2 days, had gained the Perryville (G3) aboard Brunacini for coach Matthew Sims a day earlier whereas Cox had gained the Raven Run (G2) with Emery and jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Machado and Cox working collectively is one thing they each admitted would not occur a lot, however has been fruitful after they do. In keeping with TwinSpires, the jockey/coach combo is now 6-for-10 during the last twelve months.Chop Chop, b, 4/f
Metropolis of Mild — Grand Sofia, by Big’s Causeway
Proprietor: Selective, LLC (Jerry Bach)
Breeder: Cobra Farm & MRJ Thoroughbreds (KY)
Coach: Brad H. Cox
Jockey: Luan Machado
Info supplied by Equibase at time of entry.
Pedigree Notes
Metropolis of Mild stands at Lane’s Finish for $35,000 (2024).
Sale Historical past
FTKJUL2021 • $230,000 • Consignor: Bluewater Gross sales • Purchaser: Selective/Cary Bldstk, agent.
“I have not labored a lot for Brad, however each time he offers me a chance he makes me look good,” Machado stated.
“We have not rode (Machado) a complete lot, however when we’ve got used him, he is been very efficient for us,” Cox echoed.
Sunday was the second time Machado obtained the leg-up into Chop Chop’s saddle, the primary coming Feb. 24 at Turfway Park within the Wintergreen Stakes. The pair emerged victorious each occasions.Join BloodHorse Every day
“I really like that filly, she’s an outdated professional,” Machado stated. “She does all the pieces on her personal. It makes my job simpler.”
Picture: Coady Media/Renee TorbitLuan Machado holds up the quantity two after profitable his second graded stakes of the weekend with Chop Chop
That prior expertise labored in Machado’s profit. Breaking sharp, Machado received the 4-year-old Metropolis of Mild filly to chill out in second behind Surprisingly within the first of three turns. He held that place comfortably behind fractions of :24.72, :49.94, and 1:15.88.
Machado pounced on Surprisingly approaching the quarter pole to take the lead whereas floating vast into the stretch.
“Most of her races she likes to get out a little bit bit. I let her be comfy to go the place she wished to,” Machado stated. “I did not wish to be telling her the place to go and attempt to struggle her the place she’s not comfy.”
Without end After All and Adam Beschizza had a ground-saving journey three lengths off the lead and continued to make use of the rail to mount a powerful rally within the stretch. Confronting Chop Chop on the eighth pole, the 2 threw it down for an thrilling stretch drive, one Machado by no means felt in peril of shedding.
“As quickly as she felt the opposite horse get near her, she dug and fought proper again. She’s a fighter,” Machado stated.
Chop Chop emerged a winner by a nostril, finishing 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.00 whereas paying $9.62 to win. Without end After All was 2 1/2 lengths forward of third-place finisher Anatolian . Neecie Marie , the 6-5 favourite, completed fifth with a large journey.
“All the pieces was clean, precisely the place she likes to be,” stated the favourite’s rider, Joel Rosario. “She ran her race, however typically it is onerous to win on a regular basis.”
Cox lengthened Chop Chop out to the 1 1/2-mile distance for the primary time in Keeneland’s Bewitch Stakes (G3T) in April, which she gained by 2 1/4 lengths. She then positioned 3 times in her subsequent 4 begins at distances starting from 1 5/16 miles to 1 1/2 miles together with two graded stakes.
“She does clearly like Keeneland, she likes each surfaces,” Cox stated. “However the experiment with a mile-and-a-half this spring was an excellent factor. I am very happy with the yr she’s put collectively.”
Bred in Kentucky by Cobra Farm and MRJ Thoroughbreds, Chop Chop was bought by proprietor Selective and Cary Bloodstock from the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Choose Yearling Sale for $230,000. She has now earned $1,239,952. Out of the unraced Big’s Causeway mare Grand Sofia , her second graded stakes win of the yr was a fifth in the USA for her sire Metropolis of Mild this yr.
Different high progeny this season for Metropolis of Mild, who stood the 2024 season for $35,000 at Lane’s Finish Farm close to Versailles, Ky., are a number of grade 1 winner Fierceness and grade 3 winners Formidable Man and Mentee . Metropolis Fever additionally gained a grade 3 in Puerto Rico.
Cox Units Keeneland Single-Meet Stakes Document
The win was a historic victory for Cox, giving the Kentucky-based coach a Keeneland single-meet-record fifth stakes win. Along with Chop Chop and Emery, Cox gained the Spinster (G1) with Idiomatic , Alcibiades (G1) with Immersive , and Phoenix Stakes (G2) with Federal Decide —all on opening weekend.
Picture: Coady Media/Kurtis CoadyBrad Cox (fourth from left) within the winner’s circle with Chop Chop’s connections
Cox beforehand shared the document of 4 stakes wins in a single meet with Ben Jones, Todd Pletcher, and Chad Brown within the Spring Meet and D. Wayne Lukas (twice), Mark Casse, and Graham Movement within the Fall Meet.
“We have had an excellent meet, I am very happy with what we have been in a position to accomplish,” Cox stated. “Hopefully we shut out with a powerful closing weekend. Keeneland means loads to us, we at all times attempt to run our greatest right here. It is a particular place, it is thrilling to race right here with the group and all the pieces.”
Video: Rood & Riddle Dowager S. (G3T)
