Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Timberlake is wasting no time returning to the grade 1 level as he returns from a 3 1/2-month layoff in the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park July 20, a perfect opportunity to prove himself amongst the leaders of the division.
“I think he’s one of the best 3-year-olds in the country, I really do believe that,” said Cox. “We’re putting him in a grade 1 off a layoff, he has given us the confidence to try this.”
A grade 1 winner at age 2, Timberlake was last seen finishing fourth in the March 30 Arkansas Derby (G1) after tugging his way to the lead entering the backstretch and flattening out late. The performance caused Cox to declare the colt out of Kentucky Derby (G1) contention.
“He needed some time off after the Arkansas Derby,” Cox said. “He’s been every bit as good leading up to the Haskell as he was last year and leading up to the Rebel and Arkansas Derby. I think we’re in a great spot with him.”
The Arkansas Derby, like the Haskell, is contested at 1 1/8 miles. Questions surfaced following Timberlake’s defeat whether he could handle the distance, but Cox is optimistic that different circumstances can change the result.
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“I believe he can get (the distance) with the right trip,” Cox said. “I maybe would have liked to see him sit off a horse or two (in the Arkansas Derby). I don’t know if it would make the difference.”
The positive Cox took from Arkansas was that Timberlake finished just a half-length behind eventual Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan , showing his ability to compete at this level.
“He’s a better horse now than he was then,” Cox said. “I’m excited about giving him another opportunity at the grade 1 level.”
That opportunity could prove fruitful when looking at Timberlake’s stallion career. Should he get the trip and distance, the Haskell could be the perfect chance for the son of Into Mischief to add a top-level sophomore victory to his freshman triumph.
“With him being an Into Mischief, it means even more,” Cox said. “Into Mischief is a breed-shaping sire, a sire of sires with Goldencents and a couple others that will come down the line. This horse will be a great addition to the WinStar stallion barn at some point.”
Updates on other top Cox 3-year-olds
While Timberlake missed the Kentucky Derby, Cox was still represented by Catching Freedom , who finished fourth, and Just a Touch , who finished 20th. Both colts are now taking a break following summer Derby starts.
Catching Freedom wins the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds
Albaugh Family Stables’ Catching Freedom was last seen finishing a flat fourth in the June 22 Ohio Derby (G3) behind a slow pace that worked against his closing kick.
“From the Smarty Jones to the Preakness, we asked a lot of him,” Cox said. “I liked how he was moving going into the Ohio Derby, but things didn’t set up for him.
“He just needed some time off. Freshen him up, bring him back later in the year.”
Likewise, Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel’s Just a Touch had a busy spring as he traveled from Louisiana to New York to Kentucky to qualify for the Derby. Perplexed by his last-place finish, Cox wasn’t sure what the plan would be for the remainder of the colt’s year but received his answer when Just a Touch came up tired following a second-place finish in the July 6 Iowa Derby.
“He was asking for a break, and he’s going to get it,” Cox said. “We’re looking forward to getting him back later this year and hopefully have a big 4-year-old year with him. I think he’s a very talented horse with a tremendous amount of upside.”
Cox also has the up-and-coming Juddmonte homebred Dragoon Guard , who dominated his stakes debut in the July 6 Indiana Derby (G3) in gate-to-wire fashion.
“I loved the way he came out of the Indiana Derby,” Cox said. “We’ll keep him nominated to all the 3-year-old stakes and hopefully come up with a plan in the next week or so.”
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