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Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver Among 27 Pre-Entries Working At Churchill Downs

With the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships one week away, 27 pre-entered horses logged their final breezes Saturday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., prior to shipping to Keeneland for the two-day event that runs Friday and Saturday.

Below is the full list of Breeders' Cup horses that worked on Saturday at Churchill Downs:

Horse	Work (splits/gallop out)	Workmate	Trainer	Race
Arklow	4F :49 (:12, :24.20, :36.40/1:02)		Brad Cox	Turf
Beau Recall	4F :50.40 (:25.60, :37.80/1:03.60)	Shared Sense	Brad Cox	Mile
Bell's the One	4F: :47.60 (:24/1:00.60)	Grove Daddy	Neil Pessin	F&M Sprint
By My Standards	5F :59.80 (12.40, :24.20, :35.80/1:12.60)		Bret Calhoun	Classic
Casa Creed	4F :47.20 (:12, :23.20, :35.40/1:00.20)	Harvey's Lil Goil	Bill Mott	Mile
Crazy Beautiful	5F 1:01 (:12.40, :24.40, :36.40/1:14)		Kenny McPeek	Juv. Fillies
Factor This	4F :48.80 (:12.20, :23.60)		Brad Cox	Mile
Global Campaign	5F 1:00.40 (:36.40/1:14)	She Love Me	Stan Hough	Classic
Got Stormy	4F :48.80 (:12, :23.60, :36.40)		Mark Casse	Turf Sprint
Harvey's Lil Goil	4F :47.20 (:12, :23.20, :35.40/1:00.20)	Casa Creed	Bill Mott	Filly & Mare Turf
Hog Creek Hustle	4F :47.80 (:11.40, :35.40/1:01.40)		Vickie Foley	Sprint
Knicks Go	4F :48.20 (:12.20, :24, :35.80/1:01.60)		Brad Cox	Dirt Mile
Lady Kate	4F :48.20 (:12.20, :24, :35.80/1:01.60)	Mo Zone	Eddie Kenneally	Distaff
MonomoyGirl	5F 1:01 (:12.80, :24.60, :37, :48.40/1:14.40)	Owendale	Brad Cox	Distaff
Mr Freeze	4F :50.40 (:13.20, :25.60/1:03.40)		Dale Romans	Dirt Mile
Mr. Money	4F :48.60 (:24.20, :36.60/1:01.80)		Bret Calhoun	Dirt Mile
Owendale	5F 1:01.20 (:12.60, :24.80, :48.60/1:14.40)	MonomoyGirl	Brad Cox	Dirt Mile
Sally's Curlin	4F :48.60		Dale Romans	F&M Sprint
Sconsin	4F :48.80 (:37/1:01.40, 1:15)		Greg Foley	F&M Sprint
Silver Dust	4F :49 (:12.60, :24.80, :37.20/1:02.60, 1:15.20		Bret Calhoun	Dirt Mile
Simply Ravishing	5F 1:00 (:11.80, :35/1:14)		Kenny McPeek	Juv. Fillies
Swiss Skydiver	5F 1:00 (:24.60, :36.40, :48.20/1:13.20)		Kenny McPeek	Distaff/Classic
Texas Wedge	4F :49.80 (:24.40/1:03.80)		Peter Miller	Turf Sprint
Title Ready	4F :48.20 (:23.20/1:02.40)		Dallas Stewart	Classic
Tom's d'Etat	4F :50.40 (:25/1:03.60)		Al Stall Jr.	Classic
War of Will	4F :48.20 (24/1:00.40)		Mark Casse	Dirt Mile
Whitmore	4F :48.80 (:11.60, :23.20/1:03)	Unnamed (out of Famous Lady)	Ron Moquett	Sprint

Saturday was another busy morning for Brad Cox's barn as he worked six of nine contenders including $2-million Distaff (G1) likely favorite Monomoy Girl.

“I hate to sound cliché but it was another awesome morning for all of these horses,” Cox added. “Most of the serious preparation was done last week but these works still matter to make sure each horse is in top shape prior to the event.”

Jockey Florent Geroux was aboard Monomoy Girl for her final breeze prior to the Breeders' Cup as she worked alongside $1 million Dirt Mile (GI) contender Owendale. Monomoy Girl was one of six horses Geroux breezed Saturday at Churchill Downs.

“She's a champion mare and really a horse of a lifetime,” Geroux said. “She's a future Hall of Famer with her résumé. The speed figures show she is a little bit faster this year than her 3-year-old year.”

The only remaining Breeders' Cup contenders to work at Churchill Downs are Just Might and Manny Wah. Both will work on Sunday, according to their respective trainers.

Saturday finalized the works for trainer Bret Calhoun's trio of By My Standards, Mr. Money and Silver Dust. Jockey Gabriel Saez worked Allied Racing Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Dirt Mile (G1) contender Mr. Money at 5:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) prior to breezing $6-million Classic (G1) hope By My Standards at 5:45 a.m. Jockey Adam Beschizza worked Tom Durant's Dirt Mile contender Silver Dust at 7:30 a.m.

“(By My Standards and Mr. Money) both worked awesome this morning,” Saez said. “By My Standards was supposed to be in about 1:01 but I couldn't slow him down. He's just doing really, really good. Mr. Money got over the ground great again, too.”

By My Standards was one of four Classic contenders to work on Saturday. Another was Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm's $500,000 Woodward (G1) winner Global Campaign. Trained by Stan Hough, Global Campaign returned from a nine-month freshening in April at Gulfstream Park and sports a 3-for-4 record in 2020.

“In the Fountain of Youth he really tore his quarter as bad as I've seen it,” Hough said. “That set up for a series of foot problems after that. He's very talented and I think we're getting to a place where he can really show it.”

Other Classic contenders to work Saturday were Charles Fipke's longshot Title Ready and G M B Racing's Grade I winner Tom's d'Etat.

“We are ready to go for the big money,” trainer Dallas Stewart said of Title Ready. “He's a longshot but he will be coming with his run. We'll see what happens but we'll be ready.”

Star 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver was one of three Kenny McPeek trainees to work Saturday morning. Jockey Robby Albardo was once again aboard for the work on the Preakness (GI) winner. She pre-entered both the Distaff and Classic and McPeek is leaning to the Distaff barring any major defections in the Classic.

Entries for all 14 Breeders' Cup races will take place on Monday. There are 43 horses from Churchill Downs expected to be entered. All horses are required to be on the grounds Wednesday. Many local contenders are set to arrive on Monday including Cox's nine-horse squad.

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Cox ‘A’ Team, Essential Quality Work Towards ‘Future Stars Friday’

A trio of Brad Cox-trained juveniles headed towards the ‘Future Stars Friday’ Breeders’ Cup program at Keeneland Nov. 6, got in their final major moves at soggy Churchill Downs Friday morning.

The first of the threesome at 9 a.m. was Godolphin’s ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Essential Quality (Tapit), who figures the second choice in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on the strength of his 3 1/4-length victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 3. The hombred son of Grade III-placed Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality) worked five furlongs outside of his MGSW stablemate Mr. Misunderstood (Archarcharch) in 1:01, with early fractions of :12 flat and :24 1/5, according to track clocker John Nichols.

“Essential Quality is growing up well. He’s continuing to learn and I’m very pleased with how he’s progressing,” said Cox, who has won three Breeders ‘Cup races in the last two years. “He has a ton of raw talent which he’s shown in both of his starts. We added blinkers to him over the summer to help him focus a little bit more and they’ve really helped. We have experience around two turns and we have experience at Keeneland, which is always helpful. It’s 1 1/16 miles, so it’s a short stretch. You need to be in position when you turn for home.”

Next to hit the track was Abarta (Into Mischief), who completed the exacta for his sire behind ‘Rising Star’ Mutasaabeq in the GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland Oct. 4. Prepping for the Juvenile Turf, the $200,000 Keeneland September graduate breezed a half-mile in :47.60 outside of SW & GSP Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in splits of :11.60, :23.80 and :35 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.40.

“Abarta had a really nice late kick in the Bourbon to run second,” Cox said. “He didn’t have the best of trips but really showed some adversity that afternoon. I think it’s good he has already run well over that course.”

Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) earned her ‘Rising Star‘ at first asking at Churchill Sept. 1 and validated that effort with another front-running success in the GII JP Morgan Chase Jessamine S. in Lexington Oct. 7. Purchased for 280,000gns out of last year’s Tattersalls October sale, the bay drilled a half in :48.60 (:24.40, :36.80), starting her work two lengths behind the unraced Palm Cottage (American Pharoah).

“Aunt Pearl acted like she could really run at the start,” Cox commented. “The good ones kind of do that–they’ll let you know there is a lot of talent there. Given the pedigree, we were optimistic she’d be able to carry her speed around two turns. We thought about taking her to Saratoga over the summer, but when Churchill’s condition book came out I thought it might be better to keep her at home. It’s turned out really well so far.”

Other Breeders’ Cup-bound workers at Churchill included:

Girl Daddy (Uncle Mo, Juvenile fillies), 4f in :48.20
Sittin On Go (Brody’s Cause, Juvenile), 4f in :47.40
Smiley Sobotka (Brody’s Cause, Juvenile), 4f in :47.60
Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}), Juvenile Fillies Turf, 4f in :48.60

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Cox-Trained ‘Future Stars’ Log Final Workouts Ahead Of Breeders’ Cup

With one week remaining until “Future Stars Friday” at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, trainer Brad Cox's 2-year-old trio of Abarta (Juvenile Turf), Aunt Pearl (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Essential Quality (Juvenile) logged their final works on Friday morning at Churchill Downs.

Godolphin's undefeated $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (Grade I) winner Essential Quality was the first of the Cox workers at 9 a.m. (all times Eastern). With Florent Geroux aboard, Essential Quality worked five furlongs in 1:01 outside of Flurry Racing's multiple graded stakes winner Mr. Misunderstood. The duo clipped through early fractions of :12.2 and :24.1, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

Moments later, Donegal Racing and Newton Anner Stud Farm's $200,000 Bourbon (GII) runner-up Abarta worked a half-mile in :47.60 outside of Juddmonte Farm's stakes winner Set Piece (GB). Abarta breezed through splits of :11.60, :23.80 and :35 with a five-furlong gallop out of 1:00.40.

Geroux returned to the track about 10 minutes later aboard Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber and The Elkstone Group's $150,000 Jessamine Stakes (GII) winner Aunt Pearl (IRE) and worked a half-mile in :48.60 outside unraced 2-year-old filly Palm Cottage. Aunt Pearl started two lengths behind her workmate and worked through fractions of :24.80 and :36.80.

“We have some really nice 2-year-olds in our barn this year,” Cox said. “A lot of them have already shown early promise. Essential Quality is growing up well. He's continuing to learn and I'm very pleased with how he's progressing. He has a ton of raw talent which he's shown in both of his starts. We added blinkers to him over the summer to help him focus a little bit more and they've really helped. We have experience around two turns and we have experience at Keeneland, which is always helpful. It's 1 1/16 miles, so it's a short stretch. You need to be in position when you turn for home.

“Abarta had a really nice late kick in the Bourbon to run second. He didn't have the best of trips but really showed some adversity that afternoon. I think it's good he has already run well over that course.

“Aunt Pearl acted like she could really run at the start. She and Essential Quality were two of them that really jumped out to us early in their training and showed they have some ability. The good ones kind of do that – they'll let you know there is a lot of talent there. Given the pedigree we were optimistic she'd be able to carry her speed around two turns. We thought about taking her to Saratoga over the summer but when Churchill's condition book came out I thought it might be better to keep her at home. It's turned out really well so far.”

Also on the Friday work tab was trainer Dale Romans trio of juvenile contenders: Girl Daddy (four furlongs, :48.20), Sittin On Go (four furlongs, :47.40) and Smiley Sobotka (four furlongs, :47.60). Trainer Mark Casse also worked Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) contender Spanish Loveaffair four furlongs in :48.60.

More than two inches of rain fell in the Louisville area on Thursday and it caused several trainers to alter their training for their Breeders' Cup contenders. There are 27 Breeders' Cup contenders scheduled to work Saturday at Churchill Downs (with race): Arklow (Turf), Art Collector (Dirt Mile); Beau Recall (Mile), Bell's the One (Filly & Mare Sprint), By My Standards (Classic), Casa Creed (Mile), Crazy Beautiful (Juvenile Fillies), Factor This (Mile), Global Campaign (Classic), Got Stormy (Turf Sprint), Harvey's Lil Goil (Filly & Mare Turf), Hog Creek Hustle (Sprint), Knicks Go (Dirt Mile), Lady Kate (Distaff), Manny Wah (Sprint), Monomoy Girl (Distaff), Mr Freeeze (Dirt Mile), Mr Money (Dirt Mile), Owendale (Dirt Mile), Sally's Curlin (Filly & Mare Sprint), Sconsin (Filly & Mare Sprint), Silver Dust (Dirt Mile), Simply Ravishing (Juvenile Fillies), Swiss Skydiver (Distaff/Classic), Title Ready (Classic), Tom's d'Etat (Classic), War of Will (Dirt Mile).

In total, there are 43 Breeders' Cup contenders based at Churchill Downs and Trackside Louisville. That is the most of any location pre-entered into this year's event. Next is Keeneland with 39 contenders followed by 38 international runners, 25 from Belmont Park and 21 based at Santa Anita.

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Monomoy Girl Primed For Big Effort in Distaff, But Will It Be Her Last?

Two years since Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) won the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff and after a lost 2019, the 5-year-old mare is apparently doing so well that trainer Brad Cox said she is better now than she was in 2018 when she crossed the wire first in all seven of her races. That could mean a second Distaff win. Could it also mean that she will be back for a third try in 2021?

Monomoy Girl has been entered in the Fasig-Tipton November sale and it was widely believed that she would be retired after this year’s Breeders’ Cup. But on a teleconference Wednesday to announce the pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup, Cox said the possibility of her racing next year has been raised.

“I just think [the owners] have if it in the back of their minds that if she shows up and runs extremely well in the Distaff it could be a possibility that they’d like to campaign her in 2021,” Cox said. “Given the fact that she did not race as a 4-year-old, this is basically her 4-year-old season. For a mare who is five and about to turn six, she is somewhat lightly raced. I think a lot of it will hinge on what happens Breeders’ Cup day. I think there will be a meeting at some point after the Breeders’ Cup, either that night or the next day. At some point we are going to have to get a game plan ready. A lot of it will hinge on her performance Breeders’ Cup day.”

After her outstanding 3-year-old campaign, Monomoy Girl dealt with a few setbacks last year that kept her from making a start. The ownership group, which consists of Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group LLC, Monomoy Stables and Bethlehem Stables LLC, patiently waited for Cox to ger her ready for her return. She came back with a win in a May 16 allowance race at Churchill Downs and then won the GII Ruffian S. and the GI La Troienne S.

“As far as getting her back to the races it was a long road,” Cox said. “We had a couple of setbacks in ’19. For her to be able to compete at the Grade I level and win a Grade I was really amazing for us as a team. We feel like she is better this year than she was in 2018. It means a lot to us and our staff and the owners for her to not only make it back but to compete at the Grade I level.”

Monomoy Girl’s task in the Distaff will be made tougher if GI Preakness S. winner Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) runs in that race over the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 3-year-old filly has been pre-entered in both races, with the Distaff listed as the first preference. Trainer Ken McPeek said Wednesday that he and owner Peter Callahan have yet to choose which race she will go in, but he hinted that it may be the Distaff.

“We went ahead and took advantage of the fact she can pre-enter in both races without having to pay any fees,” McPeek said. “We figured we would take a look and see what the Classic looks like. We haven’t had an opportunity to sit down and study the past performances yet. We are going to do that in the next 24, 48 hours and get some clarity on what direction we will go in.

“I do think the Distaff is the first logical choice if you don’t know who all the competitors are in the Classic. It isn’t a decision set in stone yet. This gives us the ability to look and check out the other race. I have said all along the Distaff is the likely spot. But we are not going to rule out the other race until we’ve had a chance to analyze who all is running and how the pace scenario may set up. There is still a little bit of time and we don’t have to make a firm decision until the second of November, but I assume we will probably make it over the next couple or three days.”

McPeek said there were pluses and minuses when it came to both races.

“I really like her at a mile-and-a quarter,” he said. “That would be the pro for the Classic. But I also know it is a deeper race on paper. Another pro would be that she would get a bit of weight off [Swiss Skydiver would get a three-pound weight allowance in the Classic] in that race. That’s a couple of reasons to go in that direction. Monomoy Girl will definitely be the horse to beat in the Distaff. She is certainly a top filly, so you wouldn’t think that race would be easy. We have to study it and we will come to a conclusion soon.”

The Classic looks like the more imposing spot. The race has drawn a who’s who of the top male horse in training, including Authentic (Into Mischief), Improbable (City Zip), Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), Tiz the Law (Constitution) and Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike).

Cox said he would be excited to see Swiss Skydiver in the Distaff.

“I think it would be fantastic for racing if they were to meet up in the Distaff,” he said. “Obviously, you are talking about our horse already being a champion and that filly is definitely on the leader board and will probably take home champion 3-year-old filly honors this year. It would be a really good match up from the standpoint of being a fan. And I am a fan of racing and I think it would be a tremendous match up and I am looking forward to the possibility.”

The rest of the pre-entered field for the Distaff consists of Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), Dunbar Road (Quality Road), Harvest Moon (Uncle Mo), Horologist (Gemologist), Lady Kate (Bernardini), Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), Point of Honor (Curlin), Valiance (Tapit) and Harvey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah), whose first preference is the GI Filly & Mare Turf.

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