Allied Air Raid capped a memorable afternoon of racing at Louisiana Downs for trainer Brad Cox on Saturday, when he stormed to a four-length win in the $75,000 Unbridled. It was Cox’s second stakes victory on the card following Royal By Nature’s win in the $75,000 Sunday Silence.
The races were among four stakes supporting the featured Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby won by Texas Chrome.
Cox had a total of seven horses running around the country Saturday, and overall won three races and had two seconds. His biggest victories came at Louisiana Downs.
“It was a good day,” he said.
Allied Air Raid ($6.80) was making his turf debut in the Unbridled, and he settled off the pace as Berniestrike was pressed through fractions of 23.75 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 46.90 for the half-mile, and 1:10.87. Allied Air Raid forged to the lead into the stretch and powered home to cover 1 1/16 miles on firm ground in a swift 1:40.54.
“It was very impressive,” said Cox.
Joe Bravo was aboard for Ten Strike Racing. Bravo also captured the $75,000 Happy Ticket with the Joe Sharp-trained Majestic Gale.
It was also Ten Strike Racing’s first Stakes victory since forming in January.
Cox long had expressed an interest in running Allied Air Raid on turf, and even entered him in a grass race last fall, but the horse was excluded. He has since placed in a handful of main-track stakes races, between tracks such as Monmouth and Mountaineer.
“We wanted to try him on the turf last fall,” Cox said. “He came back doing well on the dirt so we just stuck with the dirt. But we kind of felt something was missing with him. He worked so well, and while he was running well, we felt there was a little more there. The grass unveiled it.”
Cox said he will not rule out running Allied Air Raid back on dirt, but his next start will likely be on turf. He said no decisions have been made on the next start with Allied Air Raid.
Allied Air Raid earned $45,000 for owners Ten Strike Racing. He is a son of Midshipman and was bred in Kentucky.
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Ten Strike Racing