Monomoy Girl drills for Cotillion; Alabama Stakes field takes shape

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Monomoy Girl put in a workout Saturday morning over Saratoga’s main track, but her connections are sticking with their plan to skip next Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama here and point to the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 22.

In her first breeze since winning the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 22, Monomoy Girl went a half-mile in 49.93 seconds in company with the 3-year-old New York-bred filly Purely Lucky.

With Florent Geroux up, Monomoy Girl started about 1 1/2 lengths back of Purely Lucky. She tracked that one through a quarter in 24.42 seconds and gradually got to her workmate by the wire. The pair galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.26.

“Florent had his hands full, could have done much more, but we weren’t looking to do that,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She cooled out great.”

Cox said he put Monomoy Girl in company because “she seems to be a touch more honest in company. Working solo, we don’t get as much out of her.”

Cox said Monomoy Girl would probably be flown back to Churchill Downs on Wednesday to continue her preparation for the Cotillion. Monomoy Girl did virtually all of her training for the CCA Oaks at Churchill.

Monomoy Girl, a daughter of Tapizar owned by Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin’s Monomoy Stable, Stuart Grant’s Elkstone Group, and Michael Caruso’s Bethlehem Stables, is 8 for 9 lifetime. This year, she is 5 for 5, with Grade 1 victories in the Ashland, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, and CCA Oaks.

While Cox won’t be running Monomoy Girl in the Alabama, he will be represented in the race by Figarella’s Queen, most recently second to Talk Veuve to Me in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks. On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Figarella’s Queen worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds. She is expected to ship to Saratoga on Monday or Tuesday, Cox said.

Eskimo Kisses, fourth in the Kentucky Oaks and Coaching Club American Oaks, worked five furlongs in 1:03.19 over the Oklahoma training track but came home in 24.02 seconds. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:16.12.

“Keeping her long and easy the first part with a nice finish, and they got her finishing up like she does,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “Just a really good maintenance work. We’re cocked and loaded.”

McPeek said Jose Ortiz will ride Eskimo Kisses in the Alabama.

The prospective Alabama field, with riders, is: Auspicious Babe (Florent Geroux), Coach Rocks (Luis Saez), Eskimo Kisses (Jose Ortiz), Figarella’s Queen (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith), She’s a Julie (Ricardo Santana Jr.), and Talk Veuve to Me (Julien Leparoux).

Alberobello, who worked a half-mile Saturday in company with the Travers-bound Vino Rosso, is possible, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.

Entries close and post positions will be assigned for the Alabama on Wednesday.