Monomoy Girl drills for Ashland Stakes

NEW ORLEANS – Monomoy Girl, one of the top contenders for the Kentucky Oaks on May 4 at Churchill Downs, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds on Sunday at Fair Grounds, her final work here before she departs for Kentucky for the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

The Ashland is on April 7, on the same card as the Blue Grass Stakes for Kentucky Derby aspirants. The Ashland will be the final prep for the Kentucky Oaks for Monomoy Girl, and she will have one work in Kentucky prior to the Ashland.

Her work on Sunday was in company with regular rider Florent Geroux aboard. Trainer Brad Cox had her galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.80 after she disposed of her workmate.

Monomoy Girl has won four times in five starts. In her only start this year, she won the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17. She bypassed the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on Saturday in order to shoot for a Grade 1 prize in the Ashland.