Veteran jockey Cook Creek is set to compete against five strong contenders in the $150,000 listed Queens County race, a nine-furlong event for horses aged three and older, taking place at Aqueduct Racecourse on Saturday, December 27.
Cook Creek, a 6-year-old gelding by Uncle Mo trained by Mike Maker and owned by Jay Provenzano’s Flying P Stables, has earned $604,527 with a record of 27 starts, 6 wins, 3 seconds, and 4 thirds. Provenzano, who ranks tied for sixth in the 2025 NYRA ownership standings with 24 wins and earnings surpassing $1.4 million, hopes Cook Creek will add more local victories to his resume. “New York is my home turf. I love racing here and am eagerly awaiting the opening of the new Belmont Park, where I’ve already booked a suite,” said Provenzano. “While I enjoy racing in Kentucky and Oak Lawn, New York offers excellent prize money, and Belmont is close to where I grew up.”
After facing a $40,000 suspension for a win at Churchill Downs in May 2024, Cook Creek, ridden by Jose Ortiz, bounced back with two impressive option-claim wins. Provenzano commented, “He seemed to need a particular riding style. We saw he had a strong background and wanted to give him some speed. He won on the day we claimed him and then won three straight races with Ortiz.”
Last year, Cook Creek appeared poised to keep his winning streak alive in the G2 Lucas Classic at Churchill Downs but was narrowly beaten by G1 Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show and lost further ground to Rattle N Roll, who went on to win the G2 Clark. Following some struggles with four races finishing outside the top positions, Cook Creek was rested after a disappointing performance in the G3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park in February.
“He made a strong bid losing narrowly to a Dubai World Cup champion, but subsequent rides didn’t suit him,” said Provenzano. After returning to racing in August at Saratoga, finishing sixth, Cook Creek rebounded with a win at Battery Park, Delaware Park, on September 28. Provenzano gave jockey Jaime Rodriguez specific instructions, praising his riding as perfect during the muddy race.
Though Cook Creek faced challenges in his last outing at Churchill on November 28, Provenzano remains optimistic, emphasizing the horse’s soundness and the importance of keeping his confidence alive. Flavien Prat, a leading jockey, will ride Cook Creek from the outer post in the Queens County, bringing additional confidence to the team.
Trainer Brad Cox enters the race with a strong pair: Full Screen, a six-year-old with notable victories and earnings of $551,543, and Kinetic, a four-year-old coming off a nine-month break. Kinetic is a full brother to two graded stakes winners and has shown promising performances in previous races.
Classicist, a two-year-old trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, will also compete, seeking a third consecutive win for Pletcher over older horses. Other notable entrants include G2 winner Film Star and nine-time winner Bourbon Day.
The Queens County is scheduled as Race 8 of 11 on Saturday, December 27, with post time at 11:20 a.m. ET and gates opening at 10:30 a.m. ET. Fans can watch live coverage on FOX Sports and place bets through the NYRA Bets app.
Fan Take: This race highlights the depth of competitive talent in New York racing, showcasing veterans like Cook Creek and rising stars alike. For horse racing enthusiasts, it’s a thrilling opportunity to see strategic training and skilled jockeyship intersect in a tightly contested event that could shape local racing dynamics into 2026.
