Chop Chop delivered an impressive performance at Keeneland on October 20, capturing the $296,738 Dowager Stakes (G3T) for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Luan Machado.
This victory was a significant moment for both Cox and Machado, as it capped a stellar weekend of racing for both of them. Cox had already set a Keeneland single-meet record with five stakes wins, and Machado, who secured four victories over the weekend, teamed up with Cox for the Dowager Stakes win.
The duo has a strong success rate, winning six of their 10 races together over the past year, a solid record that should benefit them in future odds.
Breaking sharp out of the gate, Machado got Chop Chop to settle comfortably in second behind early leader Surprisingly. As the race progressed, the 4-year-old City of Light filly maintained her position behind fractions of :24.72, :49.94, and 1:15.88.
Approaching the stretch, Chop Chop took the lead, fending off a challenge from Forever After All in a tight battle down the final furlong, ultimately winning by a nose with a final time of 2:29.00 for the 1 1/2-mile race. Chop Chop paid $9.62 to win, rewarding those who followed the horse racing odds closely and studied this horse.
A Successful 2024 Season for Chop Chop and Cox
Chop Chop’s victory in the Dowager Stakes is her second graded stakes win of the year, profiling her for a promising 2025. Earlier in the spring, Cox had stretched her out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland, a race she won convincingly.
Since then, she has continued to perform well at extended distances, placing in several graded stakes races, analysts are starting to notice her prowess and promise. Cox credits this year’s success to Chop Chop’s ability to handle different distances and her comfort at Keeneland.
Bred in Kentucky by Cobra Farm and MRJ Thoroughbreds, Chop Chop was purchased at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale for $230,000 by owner Selective and Cary Bloodstock. Her win in the Dowager Stakes brings her career earnings to $1,239,952. She is out of the unraced Giant’s Causeway mare Grand Sofia and is one of several notable progeny of her sire City of Light, who stood the 2024 season at Lane’s End Farm.
Other top performers by City of Light this year include Grade 1 winner Fierceness and Grade 3 winners Formidable Man and Mentee. Cox’s horses are must watch contenders everywhere now.
Keeneland Record for Cox
This win also marked a historic achievement for Brad Cox, who set a Keeneland single-meet record with five stakes victories. In addition to Chop Chop, Cox’s other major wins this meet include the Spinster Stakes (G1) with Idiomatic, the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) with Immersive, and the Phoenix Stakes (G2) with Federal Judge.
This record-breaking performance showcases Cox’s ability to consistently prepare his horses for big races, making him a dominant force on the horse racing schedule.
Cox’s connection with Keeneland runs deep, as he expressed after the Dowager Stakes victory. He noted that Keeneland holds special significance for his team, and they always aim to perform at their best at the prestigious track. Looking ahead, Cox hopes to close out the meet with additional wins, continuing the momentum his stable has built throughout the season.
As the horse racing schedule moves toward its next major events, Chop Chop’s performance and Cox’s continued success at Keeneland provide plenty of excitement for bettors and fans alike. Keep an eye on the newest news from Chop Chop and other promising horses at our latest news section.
