Covfefe (USA)
February 22, 2016 – Living
Into Mischief (USA) x Antics (USA), by Unbridled (USA)
American Family 4
February 22, 2016 – Living
Into Mischief (USA) x Antics (USA), by Unbridled (USA)
American Family 4
When dual Grade 1 winner Guarana disappeared from the 2019 racing scene after being defeated in the Cotillion Stakes (USA-G1), she left the Eclipse Award door open for another 3-year-old filly to make a bold statement and stake her own claim to the title. Covfefe did just that. After clawing out a Grade 1 win in the Test Stakes over Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Serengeti Empress, Covfefe delivered an eight-length knockout punch in the listed Dogwood Stakes at the expense of Bell’s the One, who would win the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (USA-G2) in her next start. Coming off her stakes-record win, Covfefe then wrapped up her season by defeating three-time Grade 1 winner Bellafina by three-quarters of a length, with 2019 Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) winner Come Dancing in the beaten field. She impressed enough Eclipse voters to carry off the statuette in the 3-year-old filly division as well as the female sprinter division.
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$1,110,025
2019:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2019 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 10 pounds below overall highweight Crystal Ocean (a multiple European highweight) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A smallish, muscular bay mare with beautiful balance and powerful hindquarters, Covfefe typically came from just off the lead.
As a producer
Covfefe’s first foal, the 2021 Constitution filly Ellen Jay, won the listed Glen Cove Stakes as a 3-year-old. As of March 13, 2025, she is her dam’s only winner.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Covfefe was bred by Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds. Sold for US$250,000 through the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale, she was owned by LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth). She was trained by Brad Cox and was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by Joel Rosario.
Pedigree notes
Covfefe is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 2015 Mainichi Broadcast Swan Stakes (JPN-G2) winner Albiano (by Harlan’s Holiday), dam of 2023 Sekiya Kinen (JPN-G3) winner Avverare (by Duramente).
The dam of Covfefe, Antics, is an unraced half sister to 1998 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner and important sire Arch (by Kris S.); to Festival of Light (by A.P. Indy), who was named Horse of the Year in the United Arab Emirates in 2001; and to 2010 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Acoma (by Empire Maker). Antics is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Alisios (by Kris S.); to Asian Empress (by Empire Maker), dam of listed stakes winner Tea Time (by Pulpit); to Aztec Pearl (by A.P. Indy), dam of Grade 3 winner Aztec Sense (by Street Sense); and to Arania (by Dynaformer), dam of Grade 3 winner Campaign (by Curlin).
Antics's dam Aurora was a Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner in her own right . Sired by Danzig from 1983 American champion 2-year-old filly Althea (by Alydar), she is a full sister to 1994 Japanese champion 2-year-old filly Yaminin Paradise, dam of Japanese stakes winner Yamanin Seraphim (by Sunday Silence). Aurora is also a half sister to Grade 3 winner Destiny Dance (by Nijinsky II), dam of 2004 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Balletto (by Timber Country; dam of Grade 3 winner Frost Point, by Frosted, and listed stakes winner Villanesca, by Distorted Humor) and Irish Group 3 winner Dearly (by Rahy; dam of listed stakes winner True Cause, by Storm Cat).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Covfefe’s win in the 2019 Longines Test Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYLdDV42pVo.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Tim Stephansen on April 6, 2019, at Keeneland. Used by permission.
Fun facts
Last updated: March 14, 2025
Race record
8 starts, 6 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$1,110,025
2019:
- Won Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (USA-G1, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Longines Test Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won Adena Springs Miss Preakness Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Pimlico; new track record 1:07.70)
- Won Dogwood Stakes (USA-L, 7FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Roxelana Stakes (USA, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2019)
- Eclipse Award, American champion female sprinter (2019)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2019 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 10 pounds below overall highweight Crystal Ocean (a multiple European highweight) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A smallish, muscular bay mare with beautiful balance and powerful hindquarters, Covfefe typically came from just off the lead.
As a producer
Covfefe’s first foal, the 2021 Constitution filly Ellen Jay, won the listed Glen Cove Stakes as a 3-year-old. As of March 13, 2025, she is her dam’s only winner.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Covfefe was bred by Alexander-Groves Thoroughbreds. Sold for US$250,000 through the 2017 Keeneland September yearling sale, she was owned by LNJ Foxwoods (Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth). She was trained by Brad Cox and was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by Joel Rosario.
Pedigree notes
Covfefe is outcrossed through five generations. She is a half sister to 2015 Mainichi Broadcast Swan Stakes (JPN-G2) winner Albiano (by Harlan’s Holiday), dam of 2023 Sekiya Kinen (JPN-G3) winner Avverare (by Duramente).
The dam of Covfefe, Antics, is an unraced half sister to 1998 Super Derby (USA-G1) winner and important sire Arch (by Kris S.); to Festival of Light (by A.P. Indy), who was named Horse of the Year in the United Arab Emirates in 2001; and to 2010 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) winner Acoma (by Empire Maker). Antics is also a half sister to listed stakes winner Alisios (by Kris S.); to Asian Empress (by Empire Maker), dam of listed stakes winner Tea Time (by Pulpit); to Aztec Pearl (by A.P. Indy), dam of Grade 3 winner Aztec Sense (by Street Sense); and to Arania (by Dynaformer), dam of Grade 3 winner Campaign (by Curlin).
Antics's dam Aurora was a Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner in her own right . Sired by Danzig from 1983 American champion 2-year-old filly Althea (by Alydar), she is a full sister to 1994 Japanese champion 2-year-old filly Yaminin Paradise, dam of Japanese stakes winner Yamanin Seraphim (by Sunday Silence). Aurora is also a half sister to Grade 3 winner Destiny Dance (by Nijinsky II), dam of 2004 Frizette Stakes (USA-G1) winner Balletto (by Timber Country; dam of Grade 3 winner Frost Point, by Frosted, and listed stakes winner Villanesca, by Distorted Humor) and Irish Group 3 winner Dearly (by Rahy; dam of listed stakes winner True Cause, by Storm Cat).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Covfefe’s win in the 2019 Longines Test Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYLdDV42pVo.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Tim Stephansen on April 6, 2019, at Keeneland. Used by permission.
Fun facts
- “Covfefe” was a term used by President Donald Trump in a viral Twitter (now X) tweet on May 31, 2017. The word rapidly became an Internet meme. The President’s supporters treated it as an inside joke; his detractors called it a typographical error that Trump was too egotistical to correct. Trump himself never provided any definition or explanation.
- Covfefe’s effort in the Miss Preakness Stakes broke a 29-year-old track record for 6 furlongs by over a second. The previous record of 1:09 had been set by the 4-year-old colt Northern Wolf.
- Covfefe is one of only two 3-year-old fillies to win two separate Eclipse Awards since the Eclipse Awards were instituted in 1971. The other is Rachel Alexandra, who received the trophies for both American champion 3-year-old filly and American Horse of the Year in 2009.
Last updated: March 14, 2025