Kenzadargent fresh and ready for Miss Liberty

The holiday Monday card at Monmouth is topped by the $75,000 Miss Liberty Stakes, which has attracted a solid group of fillies and mares who will meet at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Favoritism could go to Kenzadargent, who will be making her 4-year-old debut for Chad Brown. Other top players include Patsy’s Holiday, who races for Todd Pletcher; the honest Maryland-based mare Nellie Cashman; and Cushion, who looks to be sitting on a big effort for Christophe Clement.

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When sent to the U.S. last summer, Kenzadargent had only a single win from 12 tries in her native France. A pair of seconds in Group 3 company hinted at her potential.

She put it all together in her first two U.S. starts, scoring impressive first- and second-level optional-claiming wins at Saratoga and Belmont. Sent off the 2-1 favorite in her 3-year-old finale, the $200,000 Pebbles at Belmont, she weakened to sixth after stalking the early pace.

Brown has worked Kenzadargent 10 times since March 15, with the last eight of those moves coming on turf. She should be ready for a representative effort first race back, and the Miss Liberty seems a realistic spot.

The Miss Liberty field consists of 10 runners in the body of the race, one also-eligible, and two main-track-only entrants.

Key contenders

Kenzadargent (Last 3 Beyers: 79-85-82)

◗ Kenzadargent races for Martin Schwartz. He and Brown have previously teamed up with the French-bred fillies Zagora, the champion filly or mare turf runner of 2012; Stacelita, the 2011 Eclipse Award-winning filly or mare turf champ; and Alterite, winner of the Grade 1 Garden City in 2013.

Patsy’s Holiday (Last 3 Beyers: 88-86-80)

◗ She was a victim of pace in her last start, which came at Keeneland, lagging behind slow fractions and then trying to close into the quicker splits of the race. Still, she was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths.

◗ She is 2 for 2 over the Monmouth grass, having won the Desert Vixen and an allowance race last year.

Nellie Cashman (Last 3 Beyers: 88-80-82)

◗ She has been a consistent performer since her 2012 debut. Now 5, she has won 2 of her last 4 starts, including the $100,000 Dahlia Stakes at Pimlico last out.

◗ Looks for her to be several lengths off the early pace. She fits well at this level.

Cushion (Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-88)

◗ Finished nicely despite getting off a bit slowly to complete a Clement exacta in the Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct in mid-April behind Stellar Path, the even-money favorite who was making her U. S. debut.

◗ Cushion was making her first start of the year in the Plenty of Grace and has worked three times since. She should be charging late.