Kentucky Derby Profile: Tawny Port

Brad Cox won his first Kentucky Derby in 2021 after Medina Spirit was disqualified. Tawny Port is one of three entries set to take to the track from the stable this year, does JN Campbell think he's a contender...?

The Brad Cox Stable is rolling into Churchill Downs with a strong contingent of entries, and I wouldn’t count out any of them. “The Program” this Eclipse Award conditioner has put together these past few years, rivals anyone in the world … that isn’t false praise or unwarranted. He brings this intriguing colt that was bred by WinStar, and is owned by the excellent Peachtree Stable.

In 5 stars, on 3 tracks, Cox tried to get this one the maximum amount of opportunities to score. He started by winning both of his Turfway Park contests on the Tapeta, which spoke to his ability to elevate from MSW Co. into an AOC race. Then it was time to get aggressive … the Risen Star S. (G2) at the Fair Grounds beckoned. I have to say, I was not overly impressed with his ability in that race, but then again, it was against the front-running Epicenter. No one was going to catch him that late afternoon, and it was about the “minors,” in the end, for the rest that “Placed” and “Showed.”

Making the move to race in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) in early April was a shrewd move because Cox knew that his colt already liked the track. I thought the effort, running 2nd to McPeek’s Tiz the Bomb, was absolutely game. When I learned that he would be wheeling back for the Stonestreet Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland, I was a little surprised. The connections wanted it, evidently, and Cox had him ready once again.

The score really showed heart, and now the Derby beckons. In many ways, you could argue that there is no better conditioned runner than this colt. He has the races under his saddle. Can he go longer? That might be a question … The problem I am having is that I am much more interested in his stablemate, Cyberknife … but there remains much respect here … maybe one of my “bubble” horses that I will consider at the last minute.

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