(Brad Cox, on the far right, wins another Churchill Downs’ Trainer’s Title / Photo by Holly M. Smith)

Late on Sunday afternoon, when it became apparent that trainer Brad Cox had won yet another “Trainer’s Title” at Churchill Downs, track handicapper and TV host Joe Kristufek made his way to the winner’s circle for a impromptu interview.

It was like pulling off a horse shoe with a pair of nail clippers.

Joe would adeptly ask the questions.

Brad Cox would adeptly answer with a nod of the head and a low-key, subtle, carefully scripted one word answer. “Yes.”

Joe would delve back into his interviewing skills and pose another.

Brad Cox would quietly, shyly, and in soft voice answer. With a single word. “Thanks.”

It was almost as much fun as watching one of Cox’s steeds rip around the racetrack and find their way to the winner’s circle.

The horses would make the trip with a lot more fanfare. Cox — a man of few words — would make the trip with a lot less publicity sizzle.

But they all made it. And, both left you with a smile and a giggle.

After Sunday’s races were all done and completed, Cox had 5 wins, 9 seconds and 5 thirds in just 31 mounts. That gave him a 1-win edge over Churchill Downs’ all-time leading and winningest trainer, Dale Romans, Brian Lynch and Eddie Kenneally. All there of those fine gents finished with 4 wins a piece.

Here’s a closer look at the Top 25 Trainers this meet:

1 Brad H. Cox 31 — 5 9 5 $483,757 16% 61% —
2 Dale L. Romans 20 — 4 1 1 $372,835 20% 30% —
3 Eddie Kenneally 18 — 4 4 2 $315,097 22% 56% —
4 Steven M. Asmussen 40 — 3 4 5 $251,439 8% 30% —
5 Ian R. Wilkes 32 — 3 2 2 $239,828 9% 22% —
6 Brian A. Lynch 12 — 4 2 0 $228,030 33% 50% —
7 Kenneth G. McPeek 26 — 3 2 2 $226,640 12% 27% —
8 Ben Colebrook 14 — 3 2 0 $213,848 21% 36% —
9 Michael J. Maker 20 — 3 3 2 $201,338 15% 40% —
10 Stanley M. Hough 7 — 3 1 1 $186,567 43% 71% —
11 Brendan P. Walsh 24 — 2 2 2 $182,007 8% 25% —
12 Albert M. Stall, Jr. 12 — 3 0 1 $168,268 25% 33% —
13 Norm W. Casse 11 — 3 1 1 $155,005 27% 45% —
14 Paul J. McGee 9 — 1 2 0 $150,212 11% 33% —
15 Shane Wilson 2 — 1 0 0 $149,230 50% 50% —
16 Donnie K. Von Hemel 5 — 3 1 0 $144,944 60% 80% —
17 Dallas Stewart 26 — 3 1 3 $135,670 12% 27% —
18 George R. Arnold, II 9 — 2 0 1 $135,242 22% 33% —
19 William I. Mott 9 — 2 0 2 $128,872 22% 44% —
20 Doug F. O’Neill 1 — 1 0 0 $120,280 100% 100% —
21 Thomas M. Amoss 19 — 1 3 3 $116,935 5% 37% —
22 Michael A. Tomlinson 13 — 3 0 2 $116,799 23% 38% —
23 Wayne M. Catalano 12 — 2 0 1 $104,726 17% 25% —
24 William B. Bradley 7 — 1 1 1 $102,719 14% 43% —
25 Brian Williamson 11 — 3 2 2 $94,232 27% 64% —

(Stats compiled by and courtesy of Equibase)