Monomoy Girl's Comeback Continues With Ruffian Win
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Monomoy Girl wins the Ruffian Stakes at a spectator-free Belmont Park
The prelims came to an end for Monomoy Girl in a rather predictable fashion.
In just her second race in 20 months, the champion tuned up for her upcoming return to grade 1 competition by taking the $145,500 Ruffian Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares July 11 at Belmont Park in a manner that confirmed the rust from an extended period of time on the sidelines is long gone.
"When a horse doesn't race for long as she did, when you watch her train, you might think she's back. But you are never sure if they're back until you see them in a race and see how they react," said Sol Kumin, part of the 5-year-old mare's ownership group. "After what you saw today, she's back."
Monomoy Girl ($2.30) did not win as easily as her $0.15-to-1 odds may have indicated, but that was hardly surprising. Two lengths ahead of Calumet Farm's Vexatious under mild urging, the daughter of Tapizar has now crossed the wire first by three lengths or less in her past seven starts.
"That's what she likes to do," jockey Florent Geroux said about the margin of victory. "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."
The Ruffian marked the return to graded stakes company for Monomoy Girl, who won a May 16 allowance optional claiming race at Churchill Downs in her first start since winning the 2018 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) to clinch an Eclipse Award as the champion 3-year-old filly. A winner of 11 of 13 starts for Kumin's Monomoy Stables, Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables, she's likely to start next in the Sept. 4 La Troienne Stakes Presented by United Card Events by Chase (G1) at Churchill.
"That's the logical spot," trainer Brad Cox said. "She's done it twice now the right way. I'm happy with what she's accomplished on this comeback and excited about the rest of the way. She's one you don't have to find excuses for. That's the difference between good and great horses."
Covering the one-turn mile in a quick 1:34.13, Monomoy Girl proved to Geroux that she's more than ready to face grade 1 competition.
"I think she's just as good now as she was at 3," said Geroux, the mare's rider in 12 of her 13 starts. "She's been training nicely, and she's showing all the signs that she's the same filly she was in 2018."
In a small field of five, Monomoy Girl chased the pace-setting Mother Mother through a half-mile in :45.55 before assuming the lead approaching the quarter pole. Vexatious, a 6-year-old Giant's Causeway mare trained by Jack Sisterson, took up the chase in the stretch but never seriously threatened the winner while finishing 8 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Piedi Bianchi.
"She's a special horse," Kumin said about Monomoy Girl. "We love her."
An earner of $3,086,118, Monomoy Girl was bred in Kentucky by FPF and Highfield Ranch and was bought for $100,000 from the Gainesway consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by BSW Bloodstock's Liz Crow. Her return to the races was postponed twice in 2019 due to a mild case of colic and a pulled muscle.
"I'm proud of her team. I want to thank the owners for not giving up on her," Cox said. "I think 90% of the owners would have pulled the plug on her (last year), but they are sportsmen. They love horse racing and wanted to see her run again. I'm thankful for that."