Monmouth Oaks pivotal race for High Dollar Woman
A talented group of 3-year-old fillies, many of whom have been lightly raced and appear to just now be coming into their own, will square off in the Grade 3, $100,000 Monmouth Oaks on Saturday.
Although High Dollar Woman is the only graded stakes winner in the field, seven of the 11 entrants come into the 1 1/16-mile race off a victory.
High Dollar Woman has had a few starts and stops during her career but showed ability at 2 by winning a loaded maiden race at Saratoga. The second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers – Curalina, Hopefaithjoy, and Paulassilverlining – each came back to win their next start. Curalina is now a two-time Grade 1 winner, and Paulassilverlining won the Grade 2 Matron.
High Dollar Woman was transferred early this year to trainer Steve Hobby, who is based at Churchill Downs. When contacted Thursday, he was en route with High Dollar Woman in tow.
“I’m bringing her in myself,” he said. “We’re on the road right now.”
High Dollar Woman has started twice for Hobby, with both races coming over sloppy tracks at Indiana Grand. She was second in an allowance race following a five-month layoff and then went wire to wire to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Indiana Oaks.
“I guess this race will tell us where we stand,” Hobby said. “I think she has a whole lot of potential. I think she’s the real deal.”
Monmouth Oaks, race 11
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Key contenders
High Dollar Woman (Last 3 Beyers: 89-70-50)
◗ She will have to overcome post 11.
“The one good thing about an outside post is you can lay outside the other speed and let things develop,” Hobby said.
◗ A daughter of Super Saver, High Dollar Woman brought big bucks at the 2014 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. March auction, where Alex and JoAnn Lieblong purchased her for $675,000.
Eskenformoney (Last 3 Beyers: 74-81-87)
◗ Didn’t fire last out in the Grade 1 Mother Goose, but her second-place effort in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks and her close third in the Grade 2 Davona Dale put her in the thick of things here.
◗ She is based with Todd Pletcher’s Monmouth string and has three local works.
Delightful Joy (Last 3 Beyers: 84-68-66)
◗ Enters off a first-level allowance win at Belmont Park for Chad Brown. Mei Ling, who was second, came back to win a Saratoga allowance.
◗ Brown also has entered Lady Serena, who comes off allowance and maiden wins at Belmont.
Light the City (Last 3 Beyers: 85-41-86)
◗ She will be making her third start since being transferred to Kiaran McLaughlin. Tuned up for this with a second-level optional-claiming win at Monmouth.
White Clover (Last 3 Beyers: 78-85-59)
◗ Her trainer, Larry Jones, has won this race four times: Cassatt (2014), No Such Word (2010), Just Jenda (2009), and Maren’s Meadow (2008).