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Distaff: Cox Throws Monomoy Girl’s Hat Into Horse Of The Year Ring

Two-time Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Monomoy Girl left trainer Brad Cox's Keeneland barn shortly after 6 a.m. and made the 15-minute drive across town in Lexington, Ky., to Fasig-Tipton Co.'s auction house where she is scheduled to sell later Sunday.

Monomoy Girl improved her 2020 record to a perfect four for four with her Distaff victory, which was made even more remarkable by the fact that she had missed all of 2019 because of various minor ailments. In 2018, she capped a championship season that included the Kentucky Oaks and four other stakes with her first Distaff win.

“To be honest, it was a relief when she won,” Cox said. “I don't why, but there's just a lot of pressure with her, but she's never let us down.”

When asked if Monomoy Girl should be considered for Horse of the Year, Cox said yes.

“She's done nothing wrong,” Cox said. “There's obviously some very good horses out there that have accomplished a lot this year and yesterday. Ultimately, that's up to the voters. Who knows, maybe, depending on who buys her, you could see her again this year and maybe even next. I don't know where. I'll know a lot more later tonight. It will be exciting. It's like we've been through two days of Breeders' Cup and now we have to go through (the sale) with her.

“She looked great out of the race, I'm telling you she really looked amazing. I really have no clue what is going to happen (at the sales.)”

Cox said he, along with family and friends, celebrated his four overall Breeders' Cup win over the weekend at a local Japanese restaurant and that he was home by 9. His plans are to return to his Churchill base to saddle horses in races there before returning to Lexington for the sale.

“We just have to keep our heads down and keep going, continue doing what we're doing,” Cox said. I told someone this morning that we have to start preparing for Breeders' Cup 2021.”

“This was an amazing weekend of racing,” Cox said. “Very happy for our staff, our owners and our clients. Very happy and proud. Our horses showed up and ran their races.”

In addition to the Distaff, Cox won the Juvenile Fillies Turf with Aunt Pearl (IRE), TVG Juvenile with Essential Quality and the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile with Knicks Go.

“I mean I've been a huge fan of racing. I love racing and I've kept up with it since I was a young kid,” Cox said. “Really growing up Breeders' Cup weekend, Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Preakness weekend, those are highlights where I can look back at the tremendous horses who won those races and I can almost remember where I was at watching on TV. But it was an amazing weekend.”

Valiance, the runner-up in the Distaff, departed Keeneland at 6 a.m. for the 10-mile van ride across Lexington to Fasig-Tipton where she will be offered for sale this afternoon or early evening.

The 4-year-old Tapit filly was purchased by current owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Martin Schwartz for $650,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2017 sale of selected yearlings in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Breeder China Horse Club then bought back in. For the partnership she has earned $809,575 with a 9-6-1-0 record that includes her triumph in Keeneland's Juddmonte Spinster on Oct. 4.

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Comeback Queen: Monomoy Girl Shines, Swiss Skydiver Struggles After Rough Start In Distaff

The much-anticipated match-up between fan favorites Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver saw the elder prevail in a decisive 1 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff. The win for 5-year-old Monomoy Girl capped an incredible 2020 season after an 18-month layoff due to colic surgery and a pulled muscle.

The race started poorly for 3-year-old Swiss Skydiver, who tripped leaving the starting gates under Robby Albarado and tucked in along the rail while Monomoy Girl sat off the early pace set by Lady Kate and Harvest Moon. Monomoy Girl made a four wide move going into the final turn while Swiss Skydiver hugged the rail and took advantage of an open space, bursting through while Monomoy Girl came charging on the outside. Swiss Skydiver weakened as Monomoy Girl strengthened with rider Florent Geroux, finding a new gear down to the finish and holding off late charges by Valiance and Dunbar Road, who finished second and third. Swiss Skydiver finished seventh.

“Honestly it's a relief,” said Cox. “She means the world to me and it's a lot of pressure when we run her, I don't know why. It just is. It's been a long road back. She's a real race horse. She's meant so much for so many people's lives, she's an amazing creature. I love her to pieces.

“Words can't even describe it. I think she plays a big role in our other three Breeders Cup victories over the weekend. She's meant so much to so many people's lives. She was my first Grade 1 winner here at Keeneland. I'm just so proud of her.”

The win is the fourth in this year's Breeders' Cup for trainer Brad Cox and the second for Geroux. Monomoy Girl's victory marks the fourth time in the race's history that a horse has won two editions of the Distaff.

“What a mare, just exceptional,” said Geroux. “She's a mare of a lifetime, very rare. 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. I'm super thankful for the opportunity that Brad and the owners have given me.”

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:47.84 following fast fractions of :23.11, :46.03, 1:09.94 on a dirt track that has played to speed all day.

Monomoy Girl's record now includes 13 wins from 15 starts, including this year's G1 La Troienne and G2 Ruffian for a group of owners including Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables. She was bred in Kentucky by FPF LLC and Highfield Ranch and is the daughter of Tapizar and Henny Hughes mare Drumette. Monomoy Girl was sold as a yearling for $100,000 to BSW Bloodstock/Liz Crow at the 2016 Keeneland September Sale, where she was consigned by Gainesway.

Prior to her break, which took out her entire 4-year-old season, she won the 2018 Distaff as well as the G1 Cotillion, G1 Coaching Club American Oaks, G1 Acorn and the G1 Kentucky Oaks.

Monomoy Girl is scheduled to be sold on Nov. 8 at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale. Her ownership told NBC reporters they would meet after the race to determine next steps after her win, but anticipated she would still go through the auction ring.

Swiss Skydiver trainer Ken McPeek suggested that as long as the filly came out of the race well, she would likely come back for a 4-year-old campaign. McPeek cautioned he wanted to check her over, as he found her finish uncharacteristic, but as long as she comes away from the Distaff healthy, he would begin plotting for 2021.

“She stumbled a little bit leaving there,” said Alborado. “It maybe cost her a little length or two position-wise, but it didn't cost us the win. I had a great opportunity turning for home and get on through there and get heads-up with the champ, but she just didn't have it today.

“I'm disappointed that we didn't win, but I'm not disappointed in her. What she has done in her career, she has never let anybody down, she hasn't disappointed anybody. The way she ran in the Preakness, she doesn't have to validate herself from here on out. She's a special filly and everybody knows her. She gets a little time now and will come back next year stronger.”

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Monomoy Girl Proves Better Than Ever in BC Distaff

Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) completed a sensational championship season in 2018 with a victory in the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs. After a series of medical issues forced her to miss her entire 4-year-old season in 2019, the Eclipse winner proved to be better than ever in her return to action this year, capping a perfect 2020 campaign with another victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland Saturday.

Monomoy Girl was hammered down to even-money favoritism in an event billed as a match race between the top older mare and the leading sophomore filly, GI Preakness S. heroine Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who was dispatched as the 2-1 second-choice. While Monomoy Girl broke cleanly from the outside post in this 10-horse World Championship event, Swiss Skydiver stumbled a step exiting stall five. She quickly recovered, but appeared to be climbing as she raced on the fence in eighth early. Monomoy Girl, on the other hand, was perched three wide in fifth as Harvest Moon (Uncle Mo) and 45-1 shot Lady Kate (Bernardini) battled through a :23.11 opening quarter.

Monomoy Girl maintained her position out in the clear, keeping a close eye on the leaders as the half-mile went in :46.03 with Swiss Skydiver still biding her time near the back of the pack. As Harvest Moon registered three-quarters in 1:09.94, Monomoy Girl inched closer to the pacesetter with Valiance charging up boldly behind the chalk and Swiss Skydiver moving into contention up the fence. Monomoy Girl ranged up alongside Harvest Moon at the top of the stretch as Swiss Skydiver drew even with the leader on her inside and the stage appeared set for the match race everyone had hoped for. Monomoy Girl gained a narrow advantage and a determined Harvest Moon hung tough beside her for a few strides as Swiss Skydiver began to fade. The Eclipse winner charged clear halfway down the stretch as Valiance ranged up strongly and Dunbar Road (Quality Road) made a bold bid from well back. But neither of those rivals ever seriously threatened Monomoy Girl, who coasted home to a 1 3/4-length victory in the Distaff.

The winner is scheduled to go through the ring across town Sunday as Hip 192 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, appropriately dubbed the “Night of the Stars,” as is runner-up Valiance (Hip 231). Dunbar Road completed the trifecta and Harvest Moon was a game third. Swiss Skydiver faded in mid-stretch to finish a surprising seventh.

When asked if Monomoy Girl will sell as planned, co-owner Sol Kumin said, “I think we are going to enjoy tonight. I think this group of owners will jump on a phone call later tonight or tomorrow and try to come up with a game plan. We will just kind of figure it out. I think at the end of the day we’re trying to be smart in the way we run our stable and she’s had an unbelievable career. We have to sort of think about what’s best for her and we’ll have to put out heads together and figure it out.”

Monomoy Girl was the first Grade I winner, first Breeders’ Cup scorer and first champion for trainer Brad Cox. She was also his fourth Breeders’ Cup winner of the weekend following Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Knicks Go (Paynter) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“Honestly it’s a relief,” said Cox. “She means the world to me and it’s a lot of pressure when we run her, I don’t know why. It just is. It’s been a long road back. She’s a real race horse. She’s meant so much for so many people’s lives, she’s an amazing creature. I love her to pieces. Words can’t even describe it. I think she plays a big role in our other three Breeders Cup victories over the weekend. She’s meant so much to so many people’s lives. She was my first Grade I winner here at Keeneland. I’m just do proud of her.”

“What a mare, just exceptional,” said winning rider Florent Geroux, who has been aboard Monomoy Girl for all of her starts. “She’s a mare of a lifetime, very rare. 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. I’m super thankful for the opportunity that Brad and the owners have given me.”

Todd Pletcher said he was pleased with his charge’s runner-up effort.

“I thought she ran super,” Pletcher said. “We had a good trip, a little wide on both turns, but we were following the winner. She put in a good run. Kept them honest to the wire.”

As for the beaten favorite, Swiss Skydiver, rider Robby Albarado said, “She stumbled a little bit leaving there. It maybe cost her a little length or two position-wise, but it didn’t cost us the win. I had a great opportunity turning for home and get on through there and get heads-up with the champ, but she just didn’t have it today. I’m disappointed that we didn’t win, but I’m not disappointed in her. What she has done in her career, she has never let anybody down, she hasn’t disappointed anybody. The way she ran in the Preakness, she doesn’t have to validate herself from here on out. She’s a special filly and everybody knows her. She gets a little time now and will come back next year stronger.”

Monomoy Girl crossed the line first in all seven of her starts in 2018, but was disqualified from one, the GI Cotillion S., and placed second behind Fasig-Tipton bound fellow champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). In addition to the Distaff, her 2018 championship season was highlighted by victories in the GI Ashland S., GI Kentucky Oaks and GI CCA Oaks.

Given a brief freshening after her Eclipse-winning campaign, the chestnut returned to the Brad Cox barn in the winter of 2019, but was soon sidelined by a case of colic. After rehabbing at WinStar, she rejoined Cox in July of 2019, but was sent to the bench yet again with a hamstring injury, which kept her off the track for the rest of her 4-year-old year.

Making her long-awaited return to the races May 16 at Churchill Downs, Monomoy Girl proved she was just as good as ever, scoring a facile optional claimer victory going a mile in the slop. Registering another easy win over next-out GI Personal Ensign S. victress Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway) in Belmont’s GII Ruffian S. July 11, the 5-year-old bested re-opposing Lady Kate and Horologist (Gemologist) in Churchill’s GI La Troienne S. last time Sept. 4.

Pedigree Note:

Monomoy Girl is the only Grade I winner by Tapizar, as well as one of six graded winners and 11 black-type scorers by the Gainesway stallion. She is also the only Grade I winner, one of three graded victors and one of 14 black-type winners out of a daughter of Henny Hughes. The winner’s dam Drumette–a half-sister to GSW Drum Major (Dynaformer)–summoned $1.85 million from Bridlewood at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November Sale while carrying a foal by Mastery. The resulting foal was a filly and she had a colt by Tapit May 25 of this year. Monomoy Girl’s 3-year-old half-brother, ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice), won one of the divisions of this year’s GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds, but was knocked off the GI Kentucky Derby trail with a minor injury. Her 2-year-old half-brother Superman Shaq (Shackleford) sold to Justin Casse at last month’s OBS Spring Sale for $550,000. He also earned the ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod after an impressive second-out graduation at Del Mar Sept. 6.

Saturday, Keeneland
LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF-GI, $1,840,000, Keeneland, 11-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:47.84, ft.
1–MONOMOY GIRL, 124, m, 5, by Tapizar
1st Dam: Drumette, by Henny Hughes
2nd Dam: Endless Parade, by Williamstown
3rd Dam: Mnemosyne, by Saratoga Six
($100,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP). O-M. Dubb, Monomoy Stables, LLC, The Elkstone Group, LLC (Stuart Grant) & Bethlehem Stables LLC; B-FPF LLC & Highfield Ranch (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: 15-13-2-0, $4,426,818. *1/2 to Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice), GSW, $327,162. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
2–Valiance, 124, f, 4, by Tapit
1st Dam: Last Full Measure, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Lazy Slusan, by Slewvescent
3rd Dam: Three Flights Up, by Topsider
($650,000 Ylg ’17 FTSAUG). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Schwartz, Martin S. and CHC Inc.; B-China Horse Club International Limited (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $340,000.
3–Dunbar Road, 124, f, 4, by Quality Road
1st Dam: Gift List, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Private Gift, by Unbridled
3rd Dam: Private Status, by Alydar
($350,000 Ylg ’17 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Jeffery J. Drown (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $180,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, NK. Odds: 1.00, 14.30, 25.90.
Also Ran: Harvest Moon, Ce Ce, Point of Honor, Swiss Skydiver, Ollie’s Candy, Horologist, Lady Kate.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Knicks Go Sets Sizzling Pace, Easily Wins Dirt Mile For Cox

Knicks Go came into Saturday's $1-million, Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with just one previous stakes win – the G1 Breeders' Futurity over the same Keeneland dirt track as a 2-year-old in 2018 – yet was sent away the 9-5 favorite over a field that included 2019 G1 Preakness winner War of Will, 2020 G2 Blue Grass Stakes winner Art Collector and recent G2 Kelso Handicap winner Complexity.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, the son of Paynter ran like a 1-9 shot, going to the lead immediately, setting sizzling fractions of :21.98, :44.40, 1:08.25 and 1:20.76, then cruising to a 3 1/2-length victory with his rider never asking him. Knicks Go covered the one mile on an obviously fast and speed favoring surface in a track record 1:33.85.

Liam's Map set the previous record for the little-used distance at Keeneland when winning the 2015 Dirt Mile in 1:34.54. The run-up for today's Dirt Mile was 190 feet, compared to 210 feet in 2015.

“It looked like he was going easy,” said Rosario.”I didn't know how fast he was going. He went 44 (seconds for a half mile). That was very fast. He was able to hang in there and have a kick at the eighth pole. It was a very good performance.”

Owned by the Korea Racing Authority and now trained by Brad Cox, Knicks Go returned $5.60 on a $2 win wager. Jesus' Team finished second, a nose ahead of Sharp Samurai, who encountered trouble in the early stages of the race. They were followed across the wire by Complexity, Owendale, Mr. Freeze, Rushie, Art Collector, War of Will, Silver Dust, Mr. Money and Pirate's Punch.

Bred in Maryland by Angie Moore and sold for $87,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Knicks go was initially trained by Ben Colebrook. In addition to his Breeders' Futurity victory, Knicks Go finished second behind Game Winner in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in 2018 after dueling on the front end throughout with Complexity, who wound up 10th that day.

For Knicks Go, the Juvenile began a 10-race losing streak that extended through the entire 2019 season. The colt was transferred to Cox and responded with two allowance/optional claiming race victories going wire to wire: the first at Oaklawn on Feb. 22 when he won by 7 1/2 lengths and the second at Keeneland on Oct. 4, winning by 10 1/4 lengths. The Beyer Speed Figures of 100 and 107, respectively, were well above his previous career best of 93 when second in the 2019 Ellis Park Derby behind Gray Magician.

The Dirt Mile was Cox's third Breeders' Cup victory in 2020. He won two on Friday with Aunt Pearl in the G1 Juvenile Fillies Turf and with Essential Quality in the G1 Juvenile.

“He's very fast and he loves Keeneland as well,” Cox said of Knicks Go. “We picked the horse up last winter and he really loves it here. Joel did a fantastic job of asking him to be forwardly placed and he responded well. They went very quick and he was able to keep going. This is a good race for him with the short stretch. A lot of things were in his favor today. He's a very aggressive horse, he loves to train. He's just a very classy horse.”

A representative of the Korea Racing Authority indicated Knicks Go would eventually go to stud in South Korea, which is in the process of improving its Thoroughbred industry's breeding program. No determination was made if Knicks Go (named for a breeding/selection process known as K-nicks) would continue to race or be retired.

Other comments following the Dirt Mile.

Second-place trainer Jose D'Angelo (Jesus' Team) – “He has done great work (training) at Keeneland. Every day, every week he improved. He likes this track. He is the best horse I have trained in the USA and in my life, too. I am very sure that in his next race, he will be closer to a win.”

Second-place jockey Luis Saez (Jesus' Team) – “I was wishing I could take him outside but if I did I would have been wide. But he ran a good race. He tries so hard.”

Third-place trainer Mark Glatt (Sharp Samurai) – “We're pleased with finishing third. A little unfortunate in the first turn. I want to watch the replay and see what happened. Irad said the one horse came out on him and made him check on heels there. I think that may have potentially cost him second. You spend quite a bit of energy and are also then farther back. He just ran into a buzz saw after that with Knicks Go. I thought down the backside we were in a decent spot and then third around the turn was pleased and would think they would have to stop for sure given the pace scenario. He's extremely versatile. He runs seemingly as well on dirt as he does turf and hopefully we can find a good race that he can win.”

Fourth-place jockey Jose Ortiz (Complexity) – “Good trip. The track is super fast. I felt like we went in :46 and change and the winner held on.”

Eighth-place Brian Hernandez Jr. (Art Collector) – “We had a good spot. Going down the backside I was able to hop outside the 2 (Sharp Samurai) on the lead and just see if I could make a run from that point. They were just faster than him today. He couldn't make up the difference on them.”

Eighth-place trainer Tommy Drury (Art Collector) – “That was it (what Brian said). Those were my thoughts. Down the backside you're thinking that these things should soften up and come back to you a little. Just didn't happen today. They kept going.”

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