Monomoy Girl to Skip Pegasus, Target Apple Blossom

The connections of Monomoy Girl have decided the recent Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner will not race in the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) and instead will be pointed to the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park April 14.

"We are going to skip the Pegasus, and we are giving her a little time to do right by her. She will come back next year, and the first-race goal will be the Apple Blossom," said Sol Kumin of Monomoy Stables, which owns the filly with Michael Dubb, Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group, and Michael Caruso's Bethlehem Stables. "If all goes well, we can take a shot at the Pegasus the following year."

The Jan. 26 Pegasus at Gulfstream Park was mentioned as a possibility for Monomoy Girl after the 3-year-old daughter of Tapizar  posted a one-length victory in the Distaff Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. It was her fifth grade 1 victory in 2018 for trainer Brad Cox.

WINCZE HUGHES: Monomoy Girl Leaves No Doubt With Distaff Victory

Temporarily stabled at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, Monomoy Girl was given a routine bone scan at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital Nov. 11-12 that revealed no issues that would have prevented her from racing in the Pegasus, but a decision was made to give her a rest after a seven-race 2018 campaign.

"There was nothing wrong with her. It was always the plan to have the scan at the end of the year, and everything checked out fine," said Liz Crow, a partner with BSW Bloodstock, which purchased the filly on behalf of Monomoy Stables for $100,000 from Gainesway's consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. "It was remarkable how clean the scan was after the kind of year she had."

Crow said Monomoy Girl will be sent to Paul Sharp's farm near Ocala, Fla., where the filly was prepared for racing, and she will receive 60 to 90 days of "much-deserved (rest and relaxation)."

Monomoy Girl is a near-certain recipient of the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly off a 2018 run that featured wins in the Distaff, Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Acorn Stakes (G1), Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), and Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1). Her victory at the Breeders' Cup made her only the third filly to win the Distaff and Kentucky Oaks in the same year.

Her lone 2018 loss came in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing Sept. 22, when she was disqualified from first to second.

"Monomoy Girl's success is a great tribute to the tremendous work by Brad Cox and his staff, in keeping her in such great form throughout the year," Crow said.

Bred by FPF and Highfield Ranch out of the Henny Hughes mare Drumette, Monomoy Girl earned $2,818,200 this year. Her career totals stand at nine wins and two seconds from 11 starts and earnings of $2,954,750.