CCA Oaks a battle between two best 3-year-old fillies

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Monomoy Girl will attempt to take a giant step toward cementing a divisional championship, while Midnight Bisou will try to get back into the conversation when the two top 3-year-old dirt fillies in training square off in Sunday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

Monomoy Girl, trained by Brad Cox, has won all four of her starts this year, three of which were Grade 1 races – including the Kentucky Oaks, in which she was the second choice. Midnight Bisou finished third, 4 1/4 lengths back, as the favorite in the Oaks, her only loss in five starts this year.

Coming out of the Oaks, Monomoy Girl won the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont on June 9, while Midnight Bisou won the Grade 2 Mother Goose on June 30 at Belmont.

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When the two met in the Oaks, Monomoy Girl, who broke from post 14, pressed the early pace, made the lead entering the far turn, then stubbornly held off Wonder Gadot to win by a half-length. Midnight Bisou was bumped out of the gate and was well off the pace. She made a wide bid turning for home, one that became wider when she was forced out while straightening out.

“She won from the 14 hole,” Cox said of Monomoy Girl. “A lot is made out of the post going in, but there wasn’t a lot made out of it coming out. I think it was a huge effort. She overcame a lot that day, and she bounced out of that well. She showed that in the Acorn. She seems to be on track for another big race on Sunday.”

Monomoy Girl is drawn in post 4, which should give jockey Florent Geroux some options. She figures to be on or close to the lead.

“I love the draw,” Cox said. “She’s definitely on her ‘A’ game, had a fantastic gallop this morning on the main track, and was feeling good, pulling up bucking a little bit. She acts like she’s ready to go.”

Before the Oaks, Midnight Bisou, then trained by Bill Spawr, won a trio of graded stakes at Santa Anita, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks. Following the Kentucky Oaks, Midnight Bisou was transferred to Steve Asmussen, who had her ready to run a strong race in the Mother Goose, where she closely tracked a solid pace for a half-mile. Asmussen expects his filly to be into the race from the outset under Mike Smith.

“You like the dimension she showed in the Mother Goose, and being close has proven to be effective at Saratoga in the past,” Asmussen said. “I think she’ll be on the lead.”

There is rain in the forecast for Sunday. The possibility of a wet track did not seem to concern Cox or Asmussen.

“Nothing but respect for the level of ability of the other fillies in the race, but my big concern is, ‘Do you like Saratoga?’ because not everybody does,” Asmussen said. “We know what she’s capable of on her best. I’m very hopeful that she’s capable of showing that here.”

There are capable fillies behind Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou. Chocolate Martini won the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, beating Eskimo Kisses by a head. Eskimo Kisses finished second to Monomoy Girl in the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland. Gio Game was third behind Monomoy Girl in the Acorn.

KEY CONTENDERS

Monomoy Girl, by Tapizar
Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-95

◗ She is a neck away from being undefeated in eight starts.

◗ She is the only member of this field to have won at 1 1/8 miles, having taken the Kentucky Oaks, where she defeated three of her four rivals in this spot.

◗ Wonder Gadot, the runner-up in the Oaks, subsequently won the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine against males.

◗ Talk Veuve to Me, the runner-up in the Acorn, came back to win the Indiana Oaks.

Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute
Last 3 Beyers: 94-91-90

◗ In beating Road to Victory by six lengths in the Mother Goose, she defeated the only horse to have beaten Monomoy Girl.

◗ Comes back in 22 days, which is why Asmussen worked her only once between races.

Eskimo Kisses, by To Honor and Serve
Last 3 Beyers: 90-85-87

◗ Didn’t have the smoothest of trips when fourth in the Kentucky Oaks and fired a bullet work over Saratoga’s main track last weekend.

◗ Will be ridden by Javier Castellano for the first time.