Monomoy Girl set for final drive to Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Monomoy Girl, one of the top two contenders for the May 4 Kentucky Oaks, was scheduled to breeze Saturday at Churchill Downs in her first work since she won the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

Trainer Brad Cox said Friday he has been very happy with how Monomoy Girl bounced out of her 5 1/2-length romp under Florent Geroux in the April 7 Ashland and that he will have the filly breeze twice leading into the 144th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Oaks at Churchill.

“She’s doing as well as we could want her to,” Cox said. “Obviously, we’re very excited about our chances.”

Monomoy Girl, a winner in 5 of 6 career starts, is owned by Monomoy Stables and Michael Dubb. The Tapizar filly figures to contend for favoritism in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks with Midnight Bisou, who will ship here April 30 for trainer Bill Spawr with other California-based horses for the Oaks and Kentucky Derby.

Cox has a second Oaks filly in Sassy Sienna, winner of the April 13 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, and a possible third in Kelly’s Humor, although he said she might be diverted instead to the seven-furlong Eight Belles on the Oaks undercard.

As of Friday, and in order of preference through qualifying points, these are the 14 fillies for the Oaks – Midnight Bisou, Monomoy Girl, Sassy Sienna, My Miss Lilly, Chocolate Martini, Coach Rocks, Rayya, Wonder Gadot, Eskimo Kisses, Take Charge Paula, Blamed, Patrona Margarita, Classy Act, and Heavenhasmynikki. Kelly’s Humor is the first alternate.

Coach Rocks, who could be third wagering choice off her win in the March 31 Gulfstream Park Oaks, also was scheduled to breeze Saturday at Churchill for trainer Dale Romans. Another Romans filly, C. S. Incharge, is no longer under Oaks consideration.

Take Charge Paula had her first work since finishing second to Coach Rocks in the Gulfstream Park Oaks when going five furlongs Thursday in 1:01.20 at Palm Meadows for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Heavenhasmynikki had her first work since missing the Gulfstream Park Oaks, going five furlongs in 1:02.60 on Friday at Churchill for owner Ron Paolucci and trainer Anthony Quartarolo. The filly was third in the March 3 Davona Dale in her most recent start.

“She’s doing all we asked and is fresh,” Paolucci said. “If she works lights-out [next Friday], we will enter.”

Oaks entries will be taken Monday, April 30. An also-eligibles list of as many as four fillies will be on the program, with scratch time set for 9 a.m. on raceday.

This Saturday at Churchill will mark the first morning with a 15-minute training period (7:30-7:45 a.m.) reserved exclusively for Oaks and Derby horses. Derby workers Saturday were expected to include Flameaway for Mark Casse and Romans’s duo of Free Drop Billy and Promises Fulfilled. Good Magic was scheduled to work Saturday at Keeneland.