Racing

Baird Doubledogdare Winner Alpine Princess Keeps Cox Barn on a Roll

Full of Run Racing II and Madaket Stable’s Alpine Princess capped a stellar three-day run for the Brad Cox barn when she posted a neck victory in the Baird Doubledogdare (G2) Friday afternoon.

The victory was the sixth from eight starters over the past three days for the Cox barn with two wins coming each day.

“You just move on to the next day and try to do it again,” said Trace Messina, who is overseeing the Keeneland string for Cox. “Alpine Princess is good this morning and probably will go back to Churchill Downs the next day or two.”

Cox has shared two Spring Meet training titles and won the past six Fall Meet titles outright. Going into Saturday’s races, he owned an 11-6 advantage over Wesley Ward and Rusty Arnold with entries in 17 races the final five days.

Mike Maker owns the Spring Meet training record of 25 victories established in 2013.

Irad Ortiz Jr., who had four victories Friday, rode Alpine Princess among Cox’s six winners. He opened an 18-11 lead over Luis Saez in the race for the Spring Meet’s leading rider. Irad has won two riding titles here: 2024 Spring and 2025 Fall.

Irad is riding at Oaklawn Park today but is to be here Sunday. He is named on mounts in 31 races over the final four days of the 15-day Keeneland season and is halfway to the Spring Meet record of 35 victories set in 2013 by Joel Rosario.