Monomoy Girl continues comeback with two-length victory in Ruffian
ELMONT, N.Y. - Monomoy Girl took a step toward regaining her championship form of 2018 with a professional two-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park.
Stalking the pace-setting Mother Mother for five furlongs of the one-mile race, Monomoy Girl took control outside the quarter pole and under a vigorous hand ride from Florent Geroux easily kept Vexatious at bay for the victory. It was 8 3/4 lengths back to Piedi Bianchi in third. Mother Mother and Always Shopping completed the order of finish.
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The win was the 11th from 13 starts for Monomoy Girl and second straight since missing her entire 4-year-old campaign due to a bout of colic and a pulled muscle. Monomoy Girl won an allowance at Churchill in May.
“Improvement,” Geroux said comparing the two races. “I think she’s a little bit better mentally. She relaxed more during the race. Before that, as a 3-year-old she was fancy of being a little keen sometimes even when she was laying second or third. She’s a little more relaxed now as she’s getting older. With that race under her belt, we can tackle some of those two-turn mile and an eighth races.”
Trainer Brad Cox, who watched the race from Kentucky, said the next likely spot for Monomoy Girl is the Grade 1, $500,000 La Troienne at 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on Sept. 4.
The goal is to get to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
Cox liked the performance Saturday from Monomoy Girl, noting that Vexatious, the filly who was chasing her home, came within a neck of Blue Prize in last year’s Summer Colony at Saratoga. Blue Prize went on to win the Spinster and Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
“It was a quality field today,” Cox said. “She stepped up and responded the right way.”
Monomoy Girl, owned by Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables, Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group, and Michael Caruslo’s Bethlehem Stables, ran a mile in 1:34.13 over a good track and returned $2.30.
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Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou, who won the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 27, may end up rematched in the Breeders’ Cup.
Monomoy Girl capped a championship 3-year-old campaign in 2018 with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs. In that race, Midnight Bisou finished third.
Last year, Midnight Bisou won eight of nine starts, and though she lost the Breeders’ Cup Distaff to Blue Prize, she was still voted champion older female.
“I’m hoping for a rematch with Midnight Bisou,” Geroux said. “I think that’s what people want to see.”