Monomoy Girl, Sultry square off in Golden Rod

Monomoy Girl and Sultry each started the Churchill Downs fall meet with a stakes victory, winning the Rags to Riches Stakes and the Spendthrift Juvenile Fillies Stallion Stakes, respectively, on opening weekend. They’re both back on closing weekend, and one could bookend the meet with another stakes victory as they square off in the Grade 2, $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes.

The Golden Rod, contested a little more than five months before the Kentucky Oaks takes place under the same twin spires, awards points toward next spring’s filly classic on a 10-4-2-1 scale.

Monomoy Girl won her debut at Indiana and an optional-claiming race at Churchill Downs, both going a mile on turf. She then switched to dirt for the Rags to Riches, and aired by 6 1/2 lengths under Florent Geroux. Trainer Brad Cox called the Rags to Riches “a really big effort” for the Tapizar filly, whom he had trained all along on dirt, but started on turf because he was seeking longer races until Monomoy Girl became more comfortable with the starting gate.

“She had two really nice breezes coming into the race,” Cox said. “Originally, she really struggled out of the gate in training, and that’s why we debuted her going long on the turf.”

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Sultry finished sixth in the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes going this 1 1/16 mile distance at Churchill Downs – her only try beyond seven furlongs. She bounced back to win a Keeneland allowance race, showing an off-the-pace running style. She employed similar tactics in the Spendthrift Juvenile Fillies, making a strong move on the inside around the far turn and catching heavy favorite Mia Mischief in the final sixteenth for the win. Corey Lanerie, who was aboard for both of those victories, retains the mount Saturday.

Cox and Eddie Kenneally, who saddles Sultry, each has a backup filly for the Golden Rod. Kelly’s Humor won the Ellis Park Debutante and finished second in the Pocahontas for Cox, but is looking to bounce back after finishing fifth in the Alcibiades at Keeneland. Kenneally sends out Dessert Honeys, multiple stakes placed as a maiden against Florida-breds before scoring a maiden win at Churchill Downs last out in a one-mile race taken off the turf.

Foxtrot Sally takes another shot at Monomoy Girl after finishing third in the Rags to Riches. Others of note in the 12-horse field include turf Grade 3-placed Cash Out, stakes-placed Caroline the Great, and sharp debut winners Undivided and Road to Victory.

KEY CONTENDERS

Monomoy Girl, by Tapizar
Last 3 Beyers: 87-70-59

◗ Her Beyer Speed Figure of 87 posted winning the Rags to Riches is the top career number in the field.

◗ Rallied from off the pace to win her debut, but has raced on the lead in her last two outings.

◗ Landed post 6 in the 12-horse field.

Sultry, by Malibu Moon
Last 3 Beyers: 72-66-54

◗ Won the sire-restricted Spendthrift Juvenile Fillies in a faster time than the colt division.

◗ Has closed in her last two races, and will be hoping for someone to hook Monomoy Girl.

◗ Drew post 4.