Sweet Return Continues for Champion Monomoy Girl

For the connections and fans of Monomoy Girl, the return to racing at age 5 continues to be a lovely experience.

In her first grade 1 test since winning the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs as a 3-year-old and then sitting out last season, champion Monomoy Girl easily proved up to the challenge, posting a clear victory in the $500,000 La Troienne Stakes Presented by Oak Grove Racing and Gaming (G1) Sept. 4 at the Louisville track.

A case of colic and a pulled muscle sidelined the champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, but owners Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin's Monomoy Stables, Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group, and Michael Caruso's Bethlehem Stables opted to bring the daughter of Tapizar  back for her 5-year-old season.

After returning with an allowance-level win May 16 at Churchill and then a two-length victory in the Ruffian Stakes (G2) July 11 at Belmont Park, trainer Brad Cox stepped her up to the highest level Friday and Monomoy Girl didn't miss a step, although the trainer felt some nerves.

"She's the only horse I get nervous running. Once I leg up Florent (Geroux), it's 10 minutes of anxiety," Cox said. "He did have to work on her a little bit to clear off from Lady Kate. She's a true champion and is able to overcome a four-wide trip into the first turn."

After breaking from the outside post in a field of eight fillies and mares, Monomoy Girl could be spotted with her trademark high head, sizing up the competition to her inside—reminiscent of the early going in her 2018 score in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) when she broke from the outside in a field of 14.

Monomoy Girl raced four wide into the first turn, but Geroux was able to gradually angle to the inside while frontrunning Lady Kate was tracked by Risky Mandate early through a quarter-mile in :23.43 with Monomoy Girl third. Those two opened on rivals in a half-mile in :46.26 while Monomoy Girl moved clearly into third.

Geroux asked for more entering the far turn, and Monomoy Girl delivered, making progress with every stride to move into second just after six furlongs in 1:10.48. She then moved past Lady Kate entering the lane, and no one seriously challenged her through the stretch. Monomoy Girl, the 2-5 favorite, completed the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:42.14, with Lady Kate holding second and Horologist rallying for third.

Geroux said he was confident that the champion was back to the top form that produced five grade 1 wins at 3.

"She gave us every indication in the morning that she was back at a top level. In the Ruffian, when she beat Vexatious pretty easily and then Vexatious came back and beat Midnight Bisou, it gave us a better line from there. Even if it wasn't for that, she's been working extremely well in the morning," Geroux said. "There is no doubt she is a champion horse and definitely a horse of a lifetime.

"There was a little bit of congestion going into the first turn, but I had a nice outside post. 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."

Bred in Kentucky by FPF and Highfield Ranch, Monomoy Girl is out of the Henny Hughes mare Drumette. She was purchased by BSW Bloodstock/Liz Crow for $100,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Gainesway. As good as she has been everywhere—she's won 12 of 14 starts, and one of those losses was a disqualification from first for interference—she's been exceptional at Churchill, where she's won five of six starts.

"She's the horse of a lifetime," Cox said. "The way she's trained since the spring, since April, is when she took off."