Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint

LNJ Foxwoods’ Covfefe added to a nearly flawless season when she held off a late charge from Bellafina to post a three-quarter-length victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

After tracking in third early behind dueling leaders Heavenhasmynikki and Danuska’s My Girl through a quarter-mile in :22.13, Covfefe and jockey Joel Rosario launched a sustained three-wide move on the turn to open a clear advantage turning for home. The daughter of Into Mischief then held sway as Santa Anita Oaks winner Bellafina finished well, giving 3-year-old fillies the exacta.

In winning a third consecutive stakes at seven furlongs, Covfefe claimed her fifth win in six starts this season and sixth win in eight career starts. Two starts back, she prevailed against Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress in the Grade 1 Longines Test Stakes. She then prepped for the Breeders’ Cup with an eight-length romp in the Sept. 21 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs, where she smashed the stakes record when she finished in 1:20.51.

Covfefe is trained by Brad Cox, who conditioned last year’s champion 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl. Covfefe figures to be in the mix for this year’s honor in that division and the female sprinter division.

“She’s a champion, hopefully. I feel like championship honors were on the line for champion filly and mare sprinter. I hope she locked that up,” said Cox, who earned his third Breeders’ Cup win. “Two Grade 1s, two very prestigious races. She overcame a lot today, too. I know this race hasn’t been around a long, long time, but I think eight Test winners maybe have tried this and not been able to break through.”—Frank Angst