2025 Kentucky Derby contenders – Cox to be well-represented in major qualifiers

Mar 12, 2025 James Scully

Brad Cox made his first Kentucky Derby appearance in 2021, sending out Mandaloun and Elusive Quality to first- and third-place finishes (both runners elevated one spot via disqualification), and the 45-year-old Louisville, Kentucky native has started a total of nine horses over the last three runnings of the Kentucky Derby. Cox will be busy in the next few weeks, readying a large contingent of three-year-olds for a possible final prep race. Let’s preview a handful of Cox runners.

Flood Zone

A private purchase after a six-furlong restricted maiden win in early January, Flood Zone picked up 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points when upsetting the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct on March 1 in his first start for new connections. By Frosted, the frontrunning colt has yet to try two turns, but Flood Zone is bred for longer distances and registered an outstanding 101 Brisnet Speed rating in the one-mile Gotham. He will ship to Dubai for the UAE Derby (G2) on April 5, a major Kentucky Derby qualifier awarding a combined 200 points to the top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10).

Flood Zone Flood Zone at 17-1 wins the 73rd running of the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes and earns 50 points on the Road to the @KentuckyDerby. 🌹

Jockey: Rey Gutierrez
Trainer: @bradcoxracing
Owner: Wathnan Racing pic.twitter.com/7NfdWl0rnr

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 1, 2025

John Hancock

A debut winner over six furlongs at Tampa in early January, John Hancock jumped to stakes competition with a gutsy half-length decision in the Sam F. Davis on Feb. 8, outdueling runner-up Owen Almighty, who came back to win the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) by open lengths. John Hancock has displayed good speed in both starts, registering triple-digit Brisnet Early Pace numbers and an encouraging 97 Speed rating for his win in the 1 1/16-mile Davis, and the Constitution colt will stretch to 1 3/16 miles for his next appearance in the Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 22.

🖊️🌹 John Hancock signs, seals and delivers in the Sam F. Davis, picking up 20 @kentuckyderby points!

Flavien Prat was up for trainer @bradcoxracing!

🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/3pUHekNPsH

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 8, 2025

Tappan Street

A good second when making his first stakes attempt in the Holy Bull (G2), Tappan Street rates as a serious contender for the Florida Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on March 29. The Into Mischief colt won at first asking in late December, graduating over seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park, and Tappan Street came up a little short when rallying from just off the pace in the Holy Bull, finishing nearly 10 lengths clear of third and earning a 99 Speed figure. The $1 million two-year-old in training purchase shows a recent five-furlong bullet work in preparation.

Rapture

A 6 1/2-length maiden winner when stretching to two turns at Oaklawn Park, Rapture will make his first stakes attempt in Saturday’s Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, which awards points on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis. The Uncle Mo colt figures to train up to the first leg of the Triple Crown with a win, and Rapture will have seven weeks to squeeze in another Kentucky Derby qualifier if he needs points.

Instant Replay

Not nominated to the Triple Crown, Instant Replay can be made eligible with a $6,000 late nomination fee by April 7. He put himself in the Louisiana Derby picture with a smart entry-level allowance win at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17, nearly equaling the track record winning the 1 1/16-mile race by five lengths, and the Maximum Security colt will look to confirm himself as a late bloomer.