Options for Monomoy Girl are Fleur de Lis or Ruffian

The two most popular older dirt females are back in training, and there's a chance the paths to their next race could bring them together sooner rather than later.

While trainer Steve Asmussen is pointing Midnight Bisou to the June 27 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, trainer Brad Cox says Monomoy Girl will make her next start in either the Fleur de Lis or the July 11 Ruffian Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

"The Fleur de Lis and the Ruffian are the only two options I can see for Monomoy Girl," Cox said. "The (grade 1 Ogden Phipps, June 13 at Belmont) was probably a little close for her second race off a lengthy, lengthy layoff. The prospect of facing Midnight Bisou will definitely play a big role in the decision. Monomoy Girl likes Churchill Downs, but she likes Belmont Park as well, and while she can handle a mile and an eighth, the mile (distance of the Ruffian) is right in her wheelhouse. 

"I'm hoping to meet up with Midnight Bisou at some point. I'm just not sure if it will be at the end of June."

Though the Ruffian appears the likely spot for Monomoy Girl's second start of 2020, Cox said he will talk with the 5-year-old mare's owners in the next week or so before selecting her next start.

"We'll see how the fields for both races come together and make a decision," said Cox, who elected to skip a work for the multiple grade 1-winning mare this weekend in favor of waiting until next weekend.

Both champion mares are listed in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top Thoroughbred poll, with Midnight Bisou occupying the top spot and Monomoy Girl seventh.

Monomoy Girl, who is owned by Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables, made a successful comeback from a 1 1/2-year layoff May 16 at Churchill Downs when she captured an allowance optional claiming race by 2 3/4 lengths. 

It was the 10th win in 12 starts for the daughter of Tapizar  who has earned $3,003,618. She was purchased by BSW Bloodstock and Liz Crow for $100,000 from the Gainesway consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Monomoy Girl, out of the Henny Hughes mare Drumette, and Midnight Bisou faced off four times in 2018, when Monomoy Girl was voted champion 3-year-old filly. Monomoy Girl crossed the wire first each time, winning the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), and Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). But in the Cotillion Stakes (G1), Monomoy Girl was disqualified from first and Midnight Bisou was declared the winner.

As for Midnight Bisou, managing partner Jeff Bloom of Bloom Racing Stable said the 5-year-old mare continues to work brilliantly at Churchill Downs in preparation for her first start since Feb. 29, when she finished a game second to Maximum Security while facing a stellar international field of males in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

"I'm probably sounding like a broken record, but she's better than ever. She's training lights out," said Bloom, who owns the daughter of Midnight Lute  along with Allen Racing and Madaket Stables. "She's happy, healthy, and has a really good attitude and could not be training any better."

While the Fleur de Lis, a $200,000 race at 1 1/8 miles that offers the winner a free spot in the Distaff, will be the next race on Midnight Bisou's schedule, Bloom said the remainder of her 2020 races will be finalized once stakes schedules for racetracks such as Saratoga Race Course are released.

"Everything is going exactly as planned within the framework of changing plans with race schedules that everyone is adjusting to," said Bloom, who bought Midnight Bisou for $80,000 from the Woodford Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. "The initial target for the comeback race is the Fleur de Lis, and once the calendar gets a little bit more structure, we'll put our plans together and work our way back from the (Distaff) like we did last year."

A winner of seven of eight starts in 2019 when she was voted champion older female, Midnight Bisou suffered her lone loss at 4 when she finished second to Blue Prize in the Distaff.

Out of the Repent mare Diva Delite, Midnight Bisou has won 12 of her 20 starts.

Since the Saudi Cup, Maximum Security has come under scrutiny after his trainer, Jason Servis, was indicted March 9 on federal race-doping charges. About a month later, the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia issued an April 13 statement saying it was withholding the awarding of all purse money pending the results of its own investigation into allegations that Servis' horses were administered prohibited substances.

More than three months after the race, Bloom said his ownership group has yet to be informed about the results of the investigation and has not received any purse money. Payoffs for the race were $10 million for the winner and $3.5 million for second.

"We've not heard anything since the announcement they are conducting their private investigation into the matter," Bloom said. "Hopefully, they'll have it figured out sooner rather than later."