Monomoy Girl's next move still a question

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Brad Cox said Friday that no decision has been reached on whether Monomoy Girl will resume serious training toward the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup, or if the star filly will be turned out ahead of a later 4-year-old campaign.

“We’ll probably revisit it in a week or so,” Cox said.

Monomoy Girl, owned by a four-way partnership, is a cinch to win the Eclipse Award for top 3-year-old filly of 2018 after capturing the Breeders’ Cup Distaff here last weekend. She has been walking the shed row and won’t return to the track unless the decision is made to run in the Pegasus.

As for other Cox horses, no decision has been made on a next start for Arklow (fourth, BC Turf), while Will Call (fifth, BC Turf Sprint) and Covfefe (fourth at 3-5 in the Oct. 6 Frizette) both are getting a break.

Leofric, winner of the Fayette to close the Keeneland meet, goes next in the Nov. 23 Clark at Churchill, and Meadow Dance, most recently third in the Oct. 5 Alcibiades, will race in the Nov. 24 Golden Rod at Churchill.

‘Bugs’ making an impact

It’s been an eventful week at Churchill for apprentice riders. Known as “bugboy” or “buggirl” because the asterisks that designate their weight allowances resemble bugs, a trio of apprentices accounted for a total of seven wins during the 20 combined races run here Wednesday and Thursday, while a fourth escaped serious injury in a spill.

Edgar Morales, who has hopes of becoming a 2018 Eclipse nominee with 84 wins on the year (through Thursday), rode three winners during those two cards. Morales, 20, is scheduled to lose his bug next weekend, since his fifth career win came Nov. 17, 2017. Also, Declan Carroll and Ezequiel Lara both rode two winners during that span.

In the 10th race Wednesday, Virginia Tormey was dislodged from her mount – just the fourth of her career – and suffered a hand injury that will keep her from getting on horses the next couple of weeks, agent Cory Prewitt said. No other riders or horses were affected.

Two Sunday co-features

Sunday is the 11th card of the fall meet, making it the exact midpoint of the 21-day stand. Back-to-back filly-mare allowances serve as co-features of a 10-race card that starts at 1 p.m. Eastern, with race 8 going at six furlongs on the main track and race 9 scheduled for a mile on the turf.

After Sunday, Churchill goes dark for two days before another five-day week starts Wednesday. Closing day is Nov. 25.