Trainer Kenny Cox reaches career milestone

LAUREL, MD — Foxy Junior remained unbeaten from three starts at Laurel Park after she drew off to an authoritative 4 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Twixt Stakes for fillies and mares racing one mile at Laurel Park.

Trained by Bernie Houghton for owner-breeder Dianne Stern, Foxy Junior settled outside and in the clear while racing in the second flight of horses as Grade 3 winner Wild Bout Hilary controlled fractions of 24.35, 48.11, and 1:14.00.

Foxy Junior always traveled sweetly under jockey Jomar Torres, and they advanced into a menacing position with a looping three-wide bid. Torres pushed the button at the quarter pole, and Foxy Junior rocketed away from her competition. The betting favorite returned $7 after stopping the timer in 1:40.07 over the fast track.

“She just broke really good today, and she put me there,” Torres said. “I just let her go and let her get comfortable. At the three-eighths pole, she was ready to go, but I waited a little bit [considering] the second wire [finish]. When I got to the stretch and I asked her, man, it’s done. She’s gone.”

Runaway Diva finished second, a neck ahead of Grade 1-placed Central Avenue. Then came millionaire Morning Matcha, St. Benedict’s Fire, Ragtime Belle, Tipple, Wild Bout Hilary, and Low Country Magic. Corningstone scratched.

Torres first teamed up with Foxy Junior on May 2, 2024, and the partnership immediately paid dividends with an 11 ½-length win in a $25,000 optional claimer at Penn National. Since then, they’ve been inseparable and have now combined for eight wins from ten dirt starts.

“She gets a lot of love from me,” Torres said. “She’s the best horse I’m riding right now. She’s amazing.”

Foxy Junior went 6-for-6 on dirt last year, including victories in Parx’s Plum Pretty Stakes and Laurel’s Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes. Her finest moment, arguably, came in last fall’s Maryland Million Distaff, when she grinded out a three-quarter length victory on “Maryland’s Day at the Races.”

Foxy Junior finished fourth in her 2025 debut, a high-level allowance at Parx on May 12, then ran fourth in Delaware’s Obeah Stakes the following month. She returned to the winner’s circle at Parx on July 15 in a high-level allowance and prepped for the Twixt with a fifth-place effort on turf at Penn National on August 8.

Although Foxy Junior’s 2025 record hasn’t been as impressive as her sterling 2024 campaign, Houghton insisted the mare was still in excellent form.

“She’s come back good [this year],” Houghton said earlier this week. “I have not had the opportunity to really run her the way I wanted to. A couple of stakes that I was pointing to got canceled in Pennsylvania. It threw me off my schedule a little bit.”

Foxy Junior’s future schedule looks certain. Her connections mentioned that she is likely to defend her Maryland Million Distaff title racing seven furlongs at Laurel Park on October 11.

A 6-year-old Pennsylvania-bred, Foxy Junior has captured 11 of 24 starts for earnings of $452,669.

*Trainer Kenny Cox reaches career milestone

Laurel Park-based trainer Kenny Cox recently reached a career milestone when he saddled his 400th lifetime winner. Cox achieved the feat at Timonium on August 31 when Andras wired the field under jockey Angel Cruz.

Cox’s first winner was Larkin’s Ambition at Penn National on March 22, 1987. His best year came in 2005 when he won 72 races for yearly earnings of $1,088,629. Lifetime, the barn has earned $8,750,709

Cox has conditioned stakes winners Flaming Emperor, High Degree, Move to Strike, and Cynergy's Star. His most recent stakes winner is the popular Ain’t Da Beer Cold, who captured the Maryland Million Classic in 2023 and the Native Dancer Stakes in 2024.

*Around the track:

Live racing resumes on Sunday with a nine-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Polynesian Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at one mile on dirt. The Polynesian headliner is reigning Maryland-bred Horse of the Year Post Time. The first post time is 12:10 ET, and there will be two “Value Pick 5” wagers with a low 12% takeout rate…There’s still time to register for the “Charm City Pick 5 Challenge,” a free online handicapping contest. Make a selection in the final five races each day during the Laurel Park fall meet, and win cash prizes. Click here to learn more…Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays” at Laurel Park. Kick back with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas in our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch begins at 11:00 am and the event runs through the final live race…Tickets are available for “Cigars on the Rail,” presented by WBAL NewsRadio 1050 AM. Enjoy premium cigars, an open bar, a trackside luncheon, and great live horse racing on Saturday, September 20 between noon and 5pm. Click here to learn more.