Monomoy Girl
Monomoy Girl | |
---|---|
American Champion Older Female Horse (2020) |
Monomoy Girl (foaled March 26, 2015) is a retired American
Monomoy Girl did not race at age four after suffering a bout of colic. In 2020, she was undefeated in four starts including the Ruffian Stakes, the La Troienne Stakes and a second Breeders' Cup Distaff. She was sold at the November 2020 Fasig-Tipton sale for $9.5 million. Her new owners decided to keep her in training and she began her six-year-old campaign on March 13, 2021, by winning the Bayakoa Stakes. She was retired in September 2021 after sustaining an injury in training at Churchill Downs.
Background
Monomoy Girl is a chestnut
She was from the second crop of foals sired by Tapizar, best known for his win in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Her dam Drumette showed limited racing ability but was descended from My Lady Love, a half-sister to the Kentucky Oaks Winner Heavenly Cause.[3]
Racing career
2017: two-year-old season
Monomoy Girl began her racing her career on September 5, 2017, in a
The filly made her first appearance on dirt in the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs on October 29 and started the
For her final start of the season, Monomoy Girl was stepped up to
2018: three-year-old season
Monomoy Girl began her three-year-old campaign in the Grade II Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on February 17, 2018, and started the 9:10 favorite ahead of Wonder Gadot (winner of the Demoiselle Stakes) and Classy Act. She broke poorly and hit the side of the starting gate, then settled at the rear of the field in the early stages. On the final turn, the filly moved up on the outside, took the lead in the straight and won by two and a half lengths from Classy Act despite ducking to the right a furlong out. After the race Brad Cox said, "She proved herself today... You can see she's still a little bit of a funny filly to deal with, but she's learning and we're lucky to have her. Obviously the Kentucky Oaks is the goal".[8]
In the Grade I
In the
Five weeks after her win at Churchill Downs, Monomoy Girl started odds-on favorite for the Grade I Acorn Stakes over one mile at Belmont Park. With Geroux again in the saddle, she won by two lengths from Talk Veuve To Me. "I just had a lot of confidence going into this race", said Cox, noting her growing maturity. "She never gets worked up. You can tell she's just kind of taking it all in. She does look around a lot. That's just her... Nothing really rattles her."[13]
On July 22, Monomoy Girl earned her fourth Grade I win in a row in the Coaching Club American Oaks at a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles at Saratoga. She went off as the 1:2 favorite in a field of five that included Midnight Bisou, her chief rival in the three-year-old filly division. Monomoy Girl went to the early lead and set a sensible pace. Turning for home, Geroux urged her forward and Monomoy Girl responded by opening up down the stretch for a three length win.[14][15]
Monomoy Girl made her next start in the
Monomoy Girl faced older fillies and mares for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, held on November 3 at Churchill Downs. The field included champion Abel Tasman (2017 Kentucky Oaks, 2018 Personal Ensign), Midnight Bisou, Blue Prize (Spinster Stakes), Vale Dori (Zenyatta Stakes), Wow Cat (Beldame Stakes) and Wonder Gadot (Queen's Plate).[17] Breaking from the outside post, Monomoy Girl stalked the early pace set by Wonder Gadot then took command rounding the turn, then held off a late run from Wow Cat to win by a length. "She ran the way she was training", Cox said. "She was training like a monster, and she ran like a monster."[18]
Monomoy Girl was named the champion three-year-old filly of 2018, earning all but two votes in her Eclipse Award category.[19]
2019: four-year-old season
Monomoy Girl's four-year-old season was postponed when she arrived at Churchill Downs by van from Fair Grounds with a mild case of colic at the end of March. She was sent to
2020: five-year-old season
Monomoy Girl made her comeback on May 16, 2020, at Churchill Downs as the 1:2 favorite in an allowance optional claiming race over one mile on a sloppy surface. She tracked the early pace while racing two-wide around the first turn, then went three wide around the final turn. She opened a lead of 4+1⁄2 lengths in mid stretch, then held off a late run from Red Dane to win by 2+3⁄4 lengths.[22][23]
She was then taken to Belmont Park for the Ruffian Stakes on July 11. The mare got off to a good start and ran in a stalker position while racing about five wide down the backstretch and four wide around the turn. She took the lead with a quarter of a mile remaining and won by two lengths under a light drive.[24] Commenting on the short margin of victory, Geroux said, "She waits for her competition. She's not the type who will win by nine or 10 lengths. It will not happen. When she gets beat, it's her own fault because she waits around."[25]
Her next race was the La Troienne Stakes on September 4 at Churchill Downs where she went off at odds of 2:5. Monomoy Girl got off to a slow start and bumped with Risky Mandate as they went into the first turn where she was carried wide. In the final turn, she started her move and moved to the lead in mid stretch, eventually winning by 1+3⁄4 lengths.[26] "There was a little bit of congestion going into the first turn, but I had a nice outside post," said Geroux. "I was never worried. I was on the best horse and we had a great trip. I just had to push the button when she was ready."[27]
On November 7, Monomoy Girl was entered in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland, going off as the even-money favorite. Her main rival was the three-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver, who had defeated Authentic in the Preakness Stakes by a short neck on October 16. Monomoy Girl broke well from the outside post and settled in fourth position behind Lady Kate and Harvest Moon. On the other hand, Swiss Skydiver stumbled out of the starting gate and settled in eighth place. On the last turn, Swiss Skydiver made up ground on the rail while Monomoy Girl circled the field on the outside. The two battled briefly before Swiss Skydiver tired, eventually finishing seventh. Monomoy Girl held off a late run from Valiance and Dunbar Road to win by 2+3⁄4 lengths.[28] "She's a mare of a lifetime, very rare," said Geroux. "It's like finding a diamond. When you have it, you do the best you can. It's a gift. Even after all she's been through, being off a year and a half, to come back and still be at the top of her game is unreal."[29]
One day later, Monomoy Girl was offered as a broodmare or racing prospect at the Fasig-Tipton "Night of the Stars" sale. She was bought by Spendthrift Farm for $9.5 million, tied with Songbird as the third highest price ever offered for a filly or mare.[30] Spendthrift decided to keep her in training for her six-year-old season and entered a lease-to-race agreement with MyRacehorse Stable, which in turn offered micro-shares of her to the general public. Sol Kumin also bought back a minority share.[31]
Monomoy Girl was named the
2021: six-year-old season
Monomoy Girl's six-year-old debut was postposed when
Monomoy Girl's next start was on April 17 in the Apple Blossom Handicap at 1+1⁄16 miles, which was billed as a match race against Swiss Skydiver. Monomoy Girl was the odds-on favorite in the field of six, with Swiss Skydiver at 2:1 and Letruska, a multiple stakes winner who had been the 2019 Mexican champion three-year-old filly, at 7:2. Monomoy Girl was away in good order, then stalked the pace while racing in the three path behind leader Letruska and Swiss Skydiver. Letruska set early fractions of :23.56, :47.96 and 1:12.26. Monomoy continued to apply pressure into the far turn and challenged for the lead turning into the straight. Monomoy Girl clearly hit the front with a furlong remaining, and continued to hold advantage until late. However, Letruska rallied along the rail and got up in the final strides to win by a nose in a final time of 1:43.14.[36] Trainer Brad Cox was a bit surprised at the way Letruska came back to win. He indicated that Monomoy Girl did lose significant amount of ground, and she gave Letruska a six-pound advantage (carrying 124 pounds compared to 118 for Letruska).[37][36]
Monomoy Girl did not bounce back from the race as quickly as expected and on May 8, it was announced that she had been sidelined due to minor muscle pains and soreness in her hamstrings.[38]
Retirement and Breeding Career
On September 22, 2021, Spendthrift Farm announced the retirement of Monomoy Girl. In the statement, trainer Brad Cox said that Monomoy Girl had suffered a non-displaced sesamoid fracture during training at Churchill Downs the previous day.[39][40]
With earnings of more than $4.7 million in her career, Monomoy Girl retired as North America's fifth highest-earning female on dirt behind Midnight Bisou, Zenyatta, Beholder and Royal Delta.[40]
Monomoy Girl delivered her first foal, a colt by top North American sire Into Mischief, on February 17, 2023. She is scheduled to be bred again to Into Mischief for the 2023 breeding season.[41]
Racing statistics
Date | Race | Racecourse | Grade | Distance | Finish | Margin | Time | Odds | Weight | Jockey | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep 5, 2017 | Maiden special weight | Indiana Grand Race Course
|
1 mile [a] | 1 | 3+3⁄4 lengths | 1:42.31 | 1.50* | 118 lbs | Marcelino Pedroza | [4] | |
Sep 28, 2017 | Allowance optional claiming | Churchill Downs | 1 mile[b] | 1 | 1+1⁄4 lengths | 1:37.87 | 2.00* | 118 lbs | Florent Geroux | [5] | |
Oct 29, 2017 | Rags to Riches Stakes | Churchill Downs | black-type | 1 mile | 1 | 6+1⁄2 lengths | 1:36.29 | 3.40 | 120 lbs | Florent Geroux | [6] |
Nov 25, 2017 | Golden Rod Stakes | Churchill Downs | II | 1+1⁄16 miles | 2 | (neck) | 1:43.36 | 0.90* | 119 lbs | Florent Geroux | [7] |
Feb 17, 2018 | Rachel Alexandra Stakes | Fair Grounds Race Course | II | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1 | 2+1⁄2 lengths | 1:43.26 | 0.90* | 120 lbs | Florent Geroux | [42] |
Apr 7, 2018 | Ashland Stakes | Keeneland | I | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1 | 5+1⁄2 lengths | 1:43.74 | 0.30* | 121 lbs | Florent Geroux | [43] |
May 4, 2018 | Kentucky Oaks | Churchill Downs | I | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1 | 1⁄2 length | 1:49.13 | 2.60 | 121 lbs | Florent Geroux | [44] |
Jun 9, 2018 | Acorn Stakes | Belmont Park | I | 1 mile | 1 | 2 lengths | 1:34.10 | 0.60* | 123 lbs | Florent Geroux | [45] |
Jul 22, 2018 | Coaching Club American Oaks | Saratoga Race Course | I | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1 | 3 lengths | 1:50.46 | 0.50* | 124 lbs | Florent Geroux | [14] |
Sep 22, 2018 | Cotillion Stakes
|
Parx Racing
|
I | 1+1⁄16 miles | 2[c] | neck | 1:45.95 | 0.50* | 121 lbs | Florent Geroux | [46] |
Nov 3, 2018 | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Churchill Downs | I | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1 | 1 length | 1:49.79 | 1.80* | 122 lbs | Florent Geroux | [47] |
May 16, 2020 | Allowance optional claiming | Churchill Downs | 1 mile | 1 | 2+3⁄4 lengths | 1:36.51 | 0.50* | 122 lbs | Florent Geroux | [22] | |
Jul 11, 2020 | Ruffian Stakes | Belmont Park | II | 1 mile | 1 | 2 lengths | 1:34.13 | 0.15* | 120 lbs | Florent Geroux | [24] |
Sep 4, 2020 | La Troienne Stakes | Churchill Downs | I | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | 1:42.14 | 0.40* | 123 lbs | Florent Geroux | [26] |
Nov 7, 2020 | Breeders' Cup Distaff | Churchill Downs | I | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | 1:47.84 | 1.00* | 124 lbs | Florent Geroux | [28] |
Feb 28, 2021 | Bayakoa Stakes | Oaklawn Park
|
III | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1 | 2 lengths | 1:45.02 | 0.20* | 119 lbs | Florent Geroux | [35] |
Apr 17, 2021 | Apple Blossom Handicap | Oaklawn Park
|
I | 1+1⁄16 miles | 2 | (nose) | 1:43.14 | 0.70* | 124 lbs | Florent Geroux | [36] |
An asterisk after the odds means Monomoy Girl was the post-time favorite.
Pedigree
Sire Tapizar (USA) 2008 |
Tapit 2001 |
Pulpit | A.P. Indy |
---|---|---|---|
Preach | |||
Tap Your Heels | Unbridled | ||
Ruby Slippers | |||
Winning Call 1998 |
Deputy Minister (CAN) | Vice Regent | |
Mint Copy | |||
Call Now | Wild Again | ||
Carols Christmas | |||
Dam Drumette (USA) 2008 |
Henny Hughes 2003 |
Hennessy | Storm Cat |
Island Kitty | |||
Meadow Flyer | Meadowlake | ||
Shortley | |||
Endless Parade 1997 |
Williamstown | Seattle Slew | |
Winter Sparkle | |||
Mnemosyne (CAN) | Saratoga Six | ||
My Lady Love (Family: 21-a)[3] |
References
- ^ a b c "Monomoy Girl pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ a b "Monomoy Girl Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Wagtail – Family 21-a". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
- ^ a b "Chart for Indiana Grand, September 5, 2017". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart for Churchill Downs, September 28, 2017". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart of the Rags to Riches". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart of the Golden Rod Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ Claire Crosby (February 17, 2018). "Monomoy Girl Jumps Off Bench to Win Rachel Alexandra". The Blood-Horse.
- ^ "Ashland Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl runs away with the Ashland". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Kentucky Oaks result". Racing Post. 4 May 2018.
- ^ Alicia Wincze Hughes (4 May 2018). "Monomoy Girl Digs Deep to Win Kentucky Oaks". The Blood-Horse.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl Powers to Acorn Victory". BloodHorse. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Chart of the Coaching Club American Oaks". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl Untouchable in Coaching Club American Oaks". BloodHorse. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ "Midnight Bisou Wins Cotillion Via Disqualification". BloodHorse. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Breeders' Cup Distaff". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl Leaves No Doubt With Distaff Victory". BloodHorse. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl champion 3 year-old filly in runaway vote". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl Back Galloping at Churchill Downs". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
- ^ "Setback Delays Return of Champion Monomoy Girl". BloodHorse. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ a b "Chart for Churchill Downs, May 16, 2020". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl returns with easy allowance victory". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart of the Ruffian Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Ehalt, Bob. "Monomoy Girl's comeback continues with Ruffian score". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart of the La Troienne Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Angst, Frank. "Sweet return continues for champion Monomoy Girl". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart of the 2020 Breeders' Cup Distaff". Equibase. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl Proves Better Than Ever in BC Distaff". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, Ron. "Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars lives up to label". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "MyRacehorse Confirms Monomoy Girl Partnership". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Monomoy Girl a dual champion after perfect season". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Eclipse Award an amazing accomplishment for Cox". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Oaklawn Park cancels racing Feb 13-15 due to winter weather". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart of the Bayakoa Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "2021 Apple Blossom Handicap Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ Ehalt, Bob (17 April 2021). "Letruska Outduels Monomoy Girl in Apple Blossom". BloodHorse. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ McGee, Marty. "Two-time Eclipse champion Monomoy Girl out indefinitely". www.drf.com. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ "Two-time Champion Monomoy Girl Retired From Racing" (Press release). Spendthrift Farm. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ a b McGee, Marty (22 September 2021). "Two-time champion, Breeders' Cup winner Monomoy Girl retired". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
- ^ McCrosky, Corrie (18 February 2023). "Monomoy Girl Delivers Into Mischief Colt". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ "Chart of the Rachel Alexandra". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Chart of the Ashland Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Chart of the Kentucky Oaks". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Chart of the Acorn Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Chart of the Cotillion Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
- ^ "Chart of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 14 March 2021.