HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Champion Monomoy Girl launched her season Sunday with a win in the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn, and has come out of the race in excellent fashion, according to trainer Brad Cox. Monomoy Girl traveled back to her Fair Grounds base Tuesday, along with champion Essential Quality. Cox said plans are for Monomoy Girl to return to Oaklawn for the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom on April 17. Monomoy Girl was a two-length winner of the Bayakoa. She settled just off the pace, tracking Finite and Our Super Freak into the stretch under regular rider Florent Geroux. “When they straightened up at the top of the lane and the three of them were right there, Florent really called upon her and she put some distance on them,” Cox said. “It was visually impressive.” :: Bet horse racing on DRF Bets. Double Your First Deposit Up to $250. Join Now. Geroux, who is the second-leading rider at Oaklawn, will be in California for much of the week in order to ride Maxfield in the Santa Anita Handicap on Saturday. Geroux’s agent, Doug Bredar, said protocols for jockeys during the pandemic dictated Geroux be in California on Wednesday. He will not be riding at Oaklawn again until Sunday. In addition to Maxfield, Geroux has been booked to ride Hit the Road in the Kilroe Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita, Bredar said.