Monomoy Girl makes it five straight in CC Oaks
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Sunday’s $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) was billed as a showdown between the top two 3-year- old fillies in the land. With a quarter-mile to run Monomoy Girl (1-2), who had finally shaken pesky longshot Gio Game, was still on top, but Midnight Bisou (6-5) was only a length behind. If she was good enough to knock off the division leader, this was her chance to show it.
Straightening for home, Monomoy Girl ‘s lead was still a length. Midnight Bisou held her position, as if waiting to make her move. Approaching the furlong pole, however, Monomoy Girl started edging away, and within a few strides it became clear that once again she was not going to be denied. The final margin was three lengths, with Chocolate Martini (43-1) another 3½ back in third.
“It wasn’t a big field, but it was a mile and an eighth, and I think there’s still some question whether that’s her best distance, but she proved today she can do it,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “She’s got speed, she puts herself in the race and she brings it every time. She didn’t let us down.”
The running time over a fast track was 1:50.46. Eskimo Kisses and Gio Game also ran.
The pace was a moderate one, and the field stayed more or less together until the quarter-pole. With Midnight Bisou edging closer and Chocolate Martini on the move, the race was far from over. Jockey Florent Geroux, however, wasn’t worried.
“I thought I had the best horse coming into the race, and I rode her like she was,” said Geroux, who has been aboard Monomoy
Girl in every start but one. “Sometimes she’ll put the brakes on by the threeeighths pole and start looking around. Today she stayed a little bit longer, maybe all the way until the eighth pole, and at the end she was really waiting on company.
“No doubt she’s getting better,” Geroux added. “Mentally and physically, she’s growing into a very nice filly. It looks like the owner has already discussed keeping her in training as a 4-year- old, which would be amazing for myself.”
Monomoy Girl races for – wait for it – Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables. The only blemish on the oncebeaten daughter of Tapizar’s record was a neck beat in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) last November. Her five-race win streak in 2018 includes four Grade 1s, the Ashland, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn and now the Coaching Club Oaks. Her bankroll stands at $1,660,750.
Asked about t he $600,000 Alabama (Aug. 18), Cox said, “It’s a possibility. There’s probably two more races this year, one more to get to the Breeders’ Cup. It would be nice to run her out of her own stall, but she’s perfectly capable of shipping, which she’s done many times. We’ll let her determine where we are.”
Cox also mentioned the Cotillion (G1) at Parx as a possibility for Monomoy Girl’s next start.