Breeders' Cup Distaff | Horse Racing Free Tips

Monomoy Girl Retired

Two-time champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar–Drumette, by Henny Hughes) has been retired from racing after she was discovered to have sustained an injury during training Tuesday at Churchill Downs, co-owner Spendthrift Farm announced Wednesday.

“Monomoy Girl went out for a routine gallop Tuesday morning and came back a little off in her right front leg. We had it x-rayed and found a non-displaced fracture of the sesamoid. Obviously, we're very disappointed,” said trainer Brad Cox. “She's walking sound today and it's not anything that will require surgery. It's just unfortunate that it will end her racing career.”

Purchased by Liz Crow for just $100,000 at Keeneland September, Monomoy Girl captured her first three races as a juvenile in 2017, including the Rags to Riches S., for an ownership group that included Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin's Monomoy Stables, Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables. Runner-up in the GII Golden Rod S. that season, she returned to winning ways in 2018, capturing the GII Rachel Alexandra S. and GI Central Bank Ashland S. A facile winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks, the chestnut took both the GI Acorn S. and GI CCA Oaks and crossed the line first in the GI Cotillion S., but was disqualified for interference and placed second. She got the best of her older rivals in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff that season, clinching her first Eclipse Award in the process.

Monomoy Girl missed the 2019 season due to colic and a hamstring injury, but returned victorious in 2020, capturing a Churchill optional claimer that May. Following suit with wins in Belmont's GII Ruffian S. and Churchill's GI La Troienne S., she ran to the money in the Distaff, defeating Valiance (Tapit) by 1 3/4 lengths, and earned her second Eclipse award.

Sent through the ring at Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars in November, Monomoy Girl summoned a whopping $9.5 million from Spendthrift Farm. My Racehorse joined in as a partner as did one of her original owners Sol Kumin, this time under his Madaket Stables banner. She was returned to Cox for her 6-year-old season, winning the GIII Bayakoa S. Feb. 28 and finished second to divisional leader Letruska (Super Saver) in the GI Apple Blossom H. when last seen Apr. 17. She was given a brief break from training following that event and had recently returned to Cox's barn. Monomoy Girl retires with a record of 17-14-3-0 and earnings of $4,776,818.

“I'm going to miss having her around and not being able to put a saddle on her again, but Monomoy Girl owes us nothing,” said Cox. “She's an unbelievable mare and will always hold a special place in my heart as our first Oaks winner, Breeders' Cup winner and champion. She will go to Spendthrift to start her breeding career and I'm sure she'll be an awesome mom.”

Spendthrift's Ned Toffey said that Monomoy Girl is expected to come to the Lexington-based farm this week to settle into her new career as a broodmare. Breeding plans have not yet been determined.

“Certainly, we are disappointed, especially for all of our partners,” said Toffey. “While we were hopeful to get her back to the races this year, we won't lose focus on what is most important and that is a healthy Monomoy Girl. She's an all-time great and we look forward to the next chapter of her career and giving her a great life on the farm at Spendthrift.”

Monomoy Girl's dam Drumette summoned $1.85 million from Bridlewood Farm in foal to Mastery at the 2018 FTKNOV sale. Her half-brother Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice) captured a split division of the GII Risen Star S. last term and has since retired to stud in New York.

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Big Names To Train Up to Breeders’ Cup

A pair of Belmont-based Grade I winners turned in works over the last few days and will be trained up to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar Nov. 5 and 6, their trainers confirmed Sept. 19.

Shadwell Stables' 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) breezed an easy four furlongs over the Belmont training track Sept. 18 in :49.49, her first breeze since winning the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 19. She will not have another start prior to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar Nov. 6.

“It was her first work back and she did it well,” Todd Pletcher said. “Her energy level is really good at the moment. We plan on training up to the Breeders' Cup.”

Winner of the GI Ashland S. on seasonal debut, the $1.05-million Keeneland September yearling outgamed Search Results (Flatter) in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks before suffering her lone defeat to date at the hooves of Maracuja (Honor Code) in the GI CCA Oaks July 24. She led home a 1-2 finish for her sire in the Alabama, besting Clairiere by a convincing 1 1/2 lengths.

Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a two-time Grade I winner this season, worked five furlongs over the Belmont inner turf course in 1:00.80 Sunday morning in the company of stablemate and French Group 3 winner Flop Shot (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and will stretch out to 12 furlongs for the first time in his next start, the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 6.

“They went fine, it was a good work for both of them,” trainer Chad Brown told the NYRA press office.

Dead-heat winner of the GI Old Forester Turf Classic in May and the GI Resorts World Manhattan S. the following month, Domestic Spending came with a late run in a paceless renewal of the GI Arlington Million Aug. 14 and just missed.

Klaravich's Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) won the 2019 Million and successfully handled the stretch out to the mile and a half in the Turf to secure Horse of the Year honors.

Belmont Breezes…

'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), runner-up in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. in his return to the races Aug. 28, tuned up for Saturday's one-mile GII Kelso S. with a half-mile work over the Belmont training track Sept. 18. The bay colt, campaigned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, covered the distance in :48.46 (17/132).

“I thought he worked super,” Pletcher said. “I was really pleased with the way he went and it looked like he was moving along there really well.”

Pletcher gave no indication as to a potential Breeders' Cup destination for Life Is Good.

Also on the worktab for the Pletcher barn was 'TDN Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke), who went a half-mile in :49.93 (70/132) while prepping for the GI Champagne S. at Belmont Oct. 2. Winner of his first two trips to the post, including an eight-length romp in the GIII Sanford S. July 17, the $575,000 KEESEP yearling was off to a sluggish start in the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 6 and came home second to Gunite (Gun Runner).

“He worked well,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, we get a little cleaner break this time. It certainly hurt his chances, he fell on his head leaving there, but I thought he ran on courageously after that.”

Pletcher added that Annapolis (War Front), accorded 'Rising Star' status for a highly impressive debut over the Saratoga turf course Sept. 4, would make his next appearance in the GII Pilgrim S. at Belmont Oct. 3.

Gufo (Declaration of War), last-out winner of the GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga Aug. 28, will make his next start in the Oct. 9 GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. He breezed an easy half-mile in :52 over the Belmont inner turf course Sunday morning.

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Letruska Rides Hot Streak Into Personal Ensign

Divisional leader Letruska (Super Saver) looks to continue her domination of the distaff division as the heavy favorite in Saturday's GI Personal Ensign S., a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in November. Opening 2021 with a victory in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic, she suffered her only loss this season when a head second to GI Kentucky Oaks victress Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Mar. 13. Out-nosing two-time Eclipse winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17, the bay wired the GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont June 5 and romped in the GII Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill last out June 26.

“She's a horse with a lot of talent. She has a strong character and the different places that we ship get more serious and more competitive,” trainer Fausto Gutierrez said.

Her biggest competition will come from champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil). Defeating Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GI Preakness S. Oct. 3, the chestnut was a head-scratching seventh in the Distaff in November and returned to winning ways in her seasonal bow in Santa Anita's GI Beholder Mile Mar. 13. Third to Letruska in the Apple Blossom, she checked was a late scratch from the Phipps with a fever and had to miss the July 25 GIII Shuvee S. Due to her barn being under quarantine. She was re-routed to the GI Whitney S. Aug. 7, where she finished fourth in her third try against males.

“She needed the race,” trainer Ken McPeek said in reference to the Whitney. “She hadn't run since April. She went through that little fever she had for the Ogden Phipps. She was just off a long time. My preference was the Shuvee. I think it certainly would have been a better launching pad, but it was a good run. I'm sure she's going to improve fitness wise off that.”

Beholder Mile runner-up As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) ships in from California for Bob Baffert. Running away to a 9 1/4-length score in the GII Santa Margarita S. at Santa Anita Apr. 24, the regally bred filly won the GII Santa Maria S. by a nose there May 22 and was fourth to Shedaresthedevil last out in the Aug. 1 GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar.

Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}) is worth a look to round out the tri or superfecta. Winner of the GIII Turnback the Alarm H. in November, the chestnut came up a head short of Bonny South (Munnings) in the GIII Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland Apr. 16 and rallied to win the Shuvee.

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Tough Task In Personal Ensign, But Miss Marissa ‘Going In The Right Direction’

Trainer Jim Ryerson said he knows that Miss Marissa is facing the biggest challenge of her career in Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign Presented by Lia Infiniti for older fillies and mares at Saratoga, yet he's optimistic that she will give a good accounting of herself.

“The race is very, very tough. There couldn't be a tougher filly and mare race anywhere,” Ryerson said of the nine-furlong test stacked with nine multiple stakes winners and three Grade 1 winners. “But we're here to participate. This race is so tough, but she deserves a chance to run with these and we'll see what happens.”

The Personal Ensign field includes three-time Grade 1 winner and reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Swiss Skydiver, who beat the boys in last year's Grade 1 Preakness and took the Grade 1 Alabama on this track last year; Letruska, who won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, and the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis in her last three outings; and Harvey's Lil Goil, the 2020 winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on the grass. Add dual Grade 2 winner As Time Goes By, whom Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is so confident in that he sent her here from Southern California, to the mix.

That lineup is mighty fearsome but Miss Marissa, whom Alphonso Cammarota bought for the bargain price of $11,000 as a yearling, might have a surprise in store. She's done it before.

Sent off at 10-1, she was a neck winner over Bonny South in the 2020 Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan in October. She outran her odds again last time out when she took the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 10 and Bonny South disappointed as the odds-on favorite with a fifth place finish. Incidentally, the Brad Cox-trained, Grade 3 winning Bonny South is also entered in Saturday's Personal Ensign.

“Marissa jumped up those times in those Grade 2s. Absolutely,” her trainer said. “She's been very consistent over the last year and done very well running two turns.”

What is also beneficial to this filly is her familiarity with her Saratoga surroundings and her affinity for the racing strip. In a pair of Saratoga starts she finished first in an optional claiming allowance race at nine furlongs in August 2020 and was the runner-up in a maiden special weight race in 2019.

“She ran good on this track and won that allowance race on this track last year. That race she ran here last year was her coming out party. She really improved in terms of her speed and her ability to run a mile-and-an-eighth, and that race propelled her into the Black-Eyed Susan,” Ryerson said. “I think that she has grown up both physically and mentally this year. She's more relaxed, she's put on weight, she's grown. She's matured like you would want a filly to move from three to four. I think that's why you see those two efforts since we stopped her in January and gave her a freshening. Those were real solid efforts and she's going in the right direction. Whether she's good enough, we'll find out on Saturday.”

The Personal Ensign is a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar in November. Ryerson last had a Breeders' Cup runner when multiple graded stakes winner Park Avenue Ball competed in the 2007 Dirt Mile. He is best known as the trainer of 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile with Unbridled's Song, who also captured the Grade 1 1996 Florida Derby.

“When you're lucky enough to have a nice horse, they make things different for you and for the whole crew. Everybody gets excited. This is some important stuff,” said Ryerson.

Daniel Centeno has been Miss Marissa's partner for the wins in the Black-Eyed Susan and the Delaware Handicap and Ryerson will leg him up again on Saturday.

“Daniel has done great with her and they team up well. We're sticking with him. He deserves this chance and Marissa deserves this chance,” he said.

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