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Star-Studded Line Up at Fasig Sunday

LEXINGTON, KY–Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale, known as the “Night of Stars,” will live up to its billing again when it kicks off Sunday at Newtown Paddocks with a sensational line-up of top race mares, broodmares and weanlings.

“We have a tremendous catalogue this year with fillies and mares coming off the racetrack, a tremendous group of in-foal mares and the best group of weanlings we’ve ever had,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We are very, very pleased and enthusiastic about the quality of our 2020 catalogue.”

Top Breeders’ Cup contenders like champion and now two-time GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) (Hip 192), Got Stormy (Get Stormy) (Hip 168), narrow GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf runner-up Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) (Hip 205), Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) (Hip 228), Distaff runner-up Valiance (Tapit) (Hip 231) and Point of Honor (Curlin) (Hip 198) will be making the trip up Newtown Pike after their tilts in the World Championships at Keeneland Saturday afternoon. Champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) (f2Hip 185), who was forced to miss the Distaff due to an injury, will also go through the ring Sunday.

It was announced late Saturday evening that Flawless (Mr. Greeley), the dam of Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (Into Mischief), has been supplemented. Catalogued as Hip 288, she will be consigned by Bridie Harrison, agent for Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds. Flawless is in foal to Into Mischief on a Feb. 18 cover carrying a full sibling to Authentic. Flawless, a TDN Rising Star, hails from a deep female family of top producers, including Holiday Runner, the dam or granddam of Grade I winners Seventh Street, Reynaldothewizard, and American Gal.

“Flawless is an exciting late addition to our November Sale,” Browning said. “Authentic is just the fourth horse ever to win the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year, and she is carrying his full sibling. To be able to add a mare of Flawless’s qualifications to our sale on the eve of the auction is unprecedented and provides buyers one of the more unique buying opportunities in recent memory.”

Some outstanding mares who have already made the transition into motherhood will be on offer at Fasig, such as Flirt (Kitten’s Joy) (Hip 164), the dam of GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf upsetter Fire at Will, who is carrying a foal by Lemon Drop Kid. Other top producers in the catalogue include Breeders’ Cup heroine Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect) (Hip 207), who is carrying a full-sibling to 2019 Breeders’ Cup winner Sharing (Speightstown); Melody Lady (Unbridled’s Song) (Hip 183), who produced GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. victor Volatile (Violence); Paris Bikini (Bernardini) (Hip 196), who is responsible for GI CCA Oaks scorer Paris Lights (Curlin); and Cara Marie (Unbridled’s Song) (Hip 254), dam of GIII Pocahontas S. winner Girl Daddy (Uncle Mo).

Two other relatives of 2020 Breeders’ Cup winners are available Sunday in Voting Agreement (More Than Ready) (Hip 280), a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Vequist (Nyquist), who sells as a broodmare prospect; and Indelible (Tiznow) (Hip 269), a half-sister to GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victor Essential Quality (Tapit), who is in foal to Nyquist.

The first 159 hips of the 287-head catalogue are weanlings, including nine from the first crop of undefeated Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy). One of those Justify foals is a half-sister to MGISW sprinter Lord Nelson (Pulpit) (Hip 109). Another weanling likely to prove popular Sunday afternoon is an Into Mischief colt out of MGISP Miss Besilu (Medaglia d’Oro) (Hip 272).

“I think we are going to see quality sells or quality has maintained its market value for the most part at all levels in 2020,” said Browning. “Hopefully every horse we have in the catalogue is quality. We feel very good about the overall prospects coming into the sale, the response pre-sale from buyers, both domestically and internationally, has been very encouraging.”

Last year’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale was topped by 2019 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize), who summoned $5 million from Larry Best of OXO Equine. The top weanling was a $750,000 filly from the first crop of Horse of the Year Gun Runner. Overall, 128 horses changed hands for a gross of $68,011,000, an average of $531,336 and a median of $300,000.

Japanese and European buyers usually make a strong showing at the November sales. COVID-19 has made travel difficult for international buyers, but thanks to online bidding, virtual inspection videos and travel visas, the international contingent has adapted.

“I think arrangements have been made,” Browning said. “There were already Japanese buyers on the grounds looking at horses and they will participate online. There is traditionally a stronger Japanese participation at the November sales than September because these are the factories they want to buy. There has been a significant number of travel waivers for buyers from Europe.”

Bidding gets underway at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Newtown Paddock

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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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Breeders’ Cup Weekend is Here!

Featuring five deep, competitive fields and plenty of intrigue, Future Stars Friday will get the two-day, 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships festivities underway from historic Keeneland Race Course. First post on the all-stakes card at the bucolic oval, hosting the Breeders’ Cup for the second time, is 11:30 a.m. ET, with the first Breeders’ Cup race set to run at 2:30 p.m. All in all, 184 horses were entered in the 14 World Championship races, which conclude with the highly-anticipated GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, slated for 5:18 p.m. Saturday.

Perfect weather is expected for both days, with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70s.

Speed will take center stage first in the 5 1/2-furlong GII Juvenile Turf Sprint, which was shaken up when expected heavy favorite Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) drew the 14-hole in a race that features three European shippers and nine stakes winners.

Euro participation picks up significantly in the GI Juvenile Turf, with half of the 14 entrants making their first starts in North America. The one-mile test is one of the most wide open races of the two days, as evidenced by the chilly 5-1 morning-line quote on favored Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief). Aidan O’Brien-trained player Battleground (War Front) is the first foal out of Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winner of the 2015 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland.

The GI Juvenile Fillies is next, as a short on quantity, long on quality seven-horse group lines up. The race storyline centers around undefeated 9-5 chalk Princess Noor (Not This Time), who has been dominant in all three starts but is yet to crack an 80 Beyer. Three more unblemished fillies give America a strong hand in the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, as Wesley Ward’s Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) returns home off a Group 1 win in France, and graded stakes winners Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Plum Ali (First Samurai) loom large.

The GI TVG Juvenile closes out Friday’s action, and all eyes will be on Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music). The four-for-four colt has barely broken a sweat in four brilliant outings, including two Grade I triumphs, but faces an abundance of early speed and must navigate two turns for the first time.

Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup action gets underway with the GI Filly & Mare Sprint at 12:02 p.m. Gamine (Into Mischief), who has been brilliant in conquests of the GI Acorn S. and GI Longines Test S. but has also twice tested positive for a banned substance, is installed as a 7-5 favorite. A wide-open GI Turf Sprint headlined by multiple Grade I-winning mare Got Stormy (Get Stormy) follows, and Complexity (Maclean’s Music) drew wide as the favorite in the GI Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. A deep and international field will contest the GI Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf, as six-time Grade I winner Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) looks for her second Breeders’ Cup win in her likely career finale.

The GI Sprint, which lost its morning-line choice when Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) scratched Thursday, comes next, and a clash of continents provides one of the deepest fields of the weekend in the GI FanDuel Mile. The marquee matchup of champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and potential Horse of the Year Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) dominates the intrigue of a 10-horse GI Longines Distaff, and Europe appears to have the GI Longines Turf cornered with a powerful six-horse contingent headed by seven-time Group 1 winner and 2018 Turf runner-up Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The curtain will close with one of the deepest Classic fields in recent memory. Bob Baffert sends out the formidable trio of Improbable (City Zip), thrice a Grade I winner this year, GI Kentucky Derby hero and narrow GI Preakness S. runner-up Authentic (Into Mischief) and controversial champion Maximum Security (New Year’s Day). Dazzling GI Runhappy Travers S. and GI Belmont S. conqueror Tiz the Law (Constitution) will try to salt away both the 3-year-old championship and a Horse of the Year crown, and Grade I-winning millionaire Tom’s d’Etat (Blame) rounds out the top contenders.

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