Mominou comes off sharp effort for Politely

Already with a stakes win at the meet, trainer Jimmy Toner will seek more stakes success Saturday at Monmouth Park when he sends out Mominou in the $75,000 Politely Stakes, scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

The Politely goes as race 10 of 12 on a card that begins at 12:50 p.m. Fans in attendance at Monmouth on Saturday will get an opportunity to see Maximum Security – who was disqualified from first in the Kentucky Derby – school in the paddock. He is expected to come over with the field for race 5 (approximately 2:20 p.m.) and take several turns in the walking ring.

The Politely drew 10 runners for the turf, but Wild About Star was scheduled to scratch to run in Friday’s $100,000 The Very One Stakes at Pimlico, according to trainer Jose Camejo.

Mominou, a daughter of Congrats, began her 3-year-old season last year with two wins and two seconds before tailing off in the summer with disappointing efforts in the Coronation Cup at Saratoga and the Christiecat at Belmont.

Following a freshening, Mominou ran fourth in a tough renewal of the Captiva Island on March 9 at Gulfstream and rebounded with an allowance win April 20 at Keeneland.

“She came back good off the layoff with a big effort the first time,” said Toner, who won the Cliff Hanger Stakes at Monmouth on May 4 with Hawkish.

Speaking of her allowance win over yielding turf at Keeneland, Toner said, “I was surprised she ran as well as she did last time with yielding ground because she wasn’t handling it that well last year.”

Goldwood finished a half-length in front of Mominou in the Captiva Island in her 5-year-old debut. She has raced once at Monmouth, finishing second in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race to Tanya’s Gem in July 2017. Tanya’s Gem also is in this field.

New York shippers Mrs. Ramona G. and Factorofwon are contenders in this spot.

Mrs. Ramona G., trained by Jeremiah Englehart, attended a modest pace in the License Fee Stakes and finished fourth, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. She may be better off sitting back and making one run.

Factorofwon finished sixth in the Giant’s Causeway Stakes at Keeneland after three good efforts at Gulfstream Park.

KEY CONTENDERS

Mominou, by Congrats

Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-43

◗ Caught a pretty hot pace and closed well in her first start off a six-month layoff when fourth in the Captiva Island Stakes.

◗ Comes off a solid allowance win at Keeneland in front-running fashion.

Mrs. Ramona G., by Kantharos

Last 3 Beyers: 84-85-85

◗ May have been taken out of her best game when she caught a slow pace in the License Fee Stakes last out.