Bethany Taylor, an exercise rider, is once again on the path to the Kentucky Derby. She regularly works with the unbeaten Dee Cord, who is set to make his stakes and two-turn debut on Friday in the 1 1/16-mile, $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn.
Taylor, a former jockey, filled a similar role last year with the more seasoned Cole Battle. That horse won multiple stakes as a 2-year-old and secured victories in two Kentucky Derby qualifying races at Oaklawn—the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes and the Grade 2, $1.25 million Rebel Stakes—before finishing 11th in the Derby.
In contrast, Dee Cord has only raced once, on December 14th, covering 6 furlongs in 1:09.57. Trained by H. Ray Ashford Jr. and owned/bred by Tom Durant, Dee Cord won by 8¼ lengths and recorded the fastest time for a 2-year-old at Oaklawn, earning an impressive Beyer speed figure of 99. Despite his limited experience, Dee Cord is the 3-1 second favorite in the Southwest Stakes, which is Oaklawn’s second of four qualifying events for the Kentucky Derby.
“I really don’t know what to think about that,” Taylor commented. “It’s exciting. We all hope he lives up to the hype. He’s impressive and drawing attention. I just hope he keeps progressing.”
Taylor joined Ashford’s team late last year. She reached out while working in sales in Kentucky last fall ahead of the December 12 Oaklawn meeting, deciding she didn’t want to return to Louisiana where Ronnie Briley, Cole Battle’s trainer, is based, and offered her assistance. Ashford had met Taylor about five years ago at Remington Park, where he trained some horses she rode.
“I knew she rode motorcycles, so I figured I’d need a Breeze rider even before I got here,” Ashford said. “I thought it would go really well. She’s a great help.”
Equibase records indicate Taylor won 92 races as a jockey, with her last ride on October 6, 2023, at Delta Downs in Louisiana. She also rode at Delta Downs on December 14, 2023.
Though Taylor never won a stakes race as a jockey, her second career has already produced a graded stakes winner and a runner who contested the Kentucky Derby. Dee Cord might be the next success story.
“Obviously, from appearances, they’re quite different,” Taylor explained. “Dee Cord’s gray, and Cole Battle is bay. But in key ways, they’re pretty similar—they both have big hearts and plenty of class. In that respect, I think they’re alike.”
Cole Battle, who hadn’t raced since July, returned to work Wednesday morning at Oaklawn, running three furlongs in 36.40 seconds—an impressive time.
This article was originally published by Paulick Report on February 4, 2026 and first appeared in the News section.
Fan Take: This update is exciting for horse racing enthusiasts because it highlights a rising talent in Dee Cord and the continued success of an experienced exercise rider transitioning into a key developmental role. Their story symbolizes the ongoing depth and passion in the sport, offering hope that fresh stars will continue to emerge and keep the Kentucky Derby storyline thrilling.
