Majestic Affair Takes Good Lord Over Shut The Box; Gives Cox And Bridgmohan Three-Win Day At Ellis

HENDERSON, Ky. (Sunday, July 22, 2018) — While trainer Brad Cox was busy winning Saratoga’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks with America’s best 3-year-old filly in Kentucky Oaks heroine Monomoy Girl, his Ellis Park division was doing its part to move the stable into No. 3 in 2018 victories in North America.

The Cox-trained 6-year-old gelding Majestic Affair surged out of a four-horse swarm in mid-stretch to take Ellis Park’s $50,000 Good Lord Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths Sunday over Shut the Box. Control Stake checked in another 5 1/2 lengths back in third, edging pacesetter Smart Spree, with Concord Fast and He’s Munnie rounding out the field.

Majestic Affair capped a three-win day at Ellis for Cox, who busted out of a tie with John Hancock and Chris Hartman at the top of the meet standings to lead 8-5. All three horses were ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, whose nine wins this meet trail only apprentice jockey Edgar Morales’ 15 and James Graham’s 11.

Monomoy Girl made it a four-win day overall, putting Cox in No. 3 in North America seasonal wins 149-148 over Robertino Diodoro. Karl Broberg is No. 1 at 321, with Steve Asmussen next at 223.

Bridgmohan settled Majestic Affair just off the pace from his outside post. In midstretch, Majestic Affair, Shut the Box, Control Stake and Smart Spree were in contention across the track. Majestic Affair on the outside and Shut the Box on the inside were the only ones to continue their drive, with Majestic Affair wrapping up 6 1/2 furlongs in a solid 1:15.41.

“He ran hard, he tried every step of the way,” Bridgmohan said as he hurried back to the jocks’ room to leave to catch a plane. “Down the lane, I just had to try to find him somewhere to go. He got a little intimidated when the horse on the outside came up next to him, but as soon as I was able to get him to the outside he was more comfortable and finished really well. He ran really good.”

Majestic Affair paid $4 to win after going off the even-money favorite on Kentucky HBPA College Day.

“He ran really well,” said Chris Landeros, rider of the Angel Montano-trained Shut the Box. “He came off a little layoff, about a quarter of the year. I thought it was a pretty good run considering. I had wait for a little spot. It opened up perfectly down on the inside, and he gave me a good run.”

Tessa Bisha, who oversees Cox’s 72-strong Ellis division, said Majestic Affair shipped in from Cox’s Churchill Downs division Saturday.

“We talked earlier today,” she said of Cox. “We already know that this horse doesn’t need the lead, and coming from the outside post that’s a good thing. He was able to settle where he was comfortable. I think Shaun made a really smart ride.”

Majestic Affair, a son of Majesticperfection out of the Blumin Affair mare Blumin Beauty, started his career with Chad Brown, for whom he won Aqueduct’s Fred “Cappy” Capossela in Laurel’s Frank Whitely Jr. 2015 and Aqueduct’s Jazil Stakes in 2016. He ran only once last year, a well-beaten sixth in Monmouth’s Grade 3 Salvatore Mile, then was sent to Cox for his 6-year-old season.

He won a $40,000 claiming race at Keeneland in his first start in a year, then was fourth behind the well-regarded American Anthem in a tough Churchill Downs allowance/optional claiming race in which he was in for the $80,000 claiming price, which he followed with a victory in another allowance/optional claiming race in which he was in for $62,500.

No one claimed Majestic Affair, and owners Thomas Coleman, Doheny Racing Stable and Madaket Stables collected their fourth stakes with the old boy. Majestic Affair won for the ninth time in 21 starts, with four seconds and a third, earning $541,857 with the $40,690 paycheck.

“The horse has made over a half-million, so you know he’s a legit contender,” Bisha said. “He knows how to win.”

Cox also won Ellis Park’s fourth with Katie’s Reward (bridge), the fifth with Maybe Wicked (bridge).

“I guess we’re closing this year,” Bisha said with a laugh, in reference to the barn’s 0 for 13 start at Ellis. “I hope we keep rolling.”

Alvin Ortiz won his first race in America, as Indiana-based Puppy On a String won the ninth race, a $5,000 claiming event for fillies and mares on turf. Puppy On a String paid $17.80 to win.

Racing resumes Friday, with the first post at 12:50 p.m. Central.

Photos below: Majestic Affair winning Ellis Park’s $50,000 Good Lord Stakes under Shaun Bridgmohan. Coady Photography

Video: Bonus coverage for Evansville/Henderson and surrounding market: Evansville Otters shortstop Toby Thomas somewhat unexpectedly decided to retire as a professional ballplayer to return to college to get a business degree and join his dad in coaching. As it turned out, his first day of retirement was spent at Ellis Park – the first time Thomas had been to a horse track. Thomas wanted to come to the track in part because his girlfriend, Amber Wellborn, was in town and is a horse lover who has only been to the track once, the 2015 Kentucky Derby.

Thomas, an Alabama native, played in the Chicago White Sox organization from 2013-17 after being drafted in the 21st round out of Pensacola State College. We talked to Toby about his decision and what he thinks of horse racing.