Vault, a Pennsylvania bred trained by Brad Cox making just her second career graded stakes start, was unhurried breaking from the inside post, content to let Gibberish lead the field through the opening quarter-mile in 23.57 seconds and the half in 47.24 over the fast main track.

Taking back under Rosario, Vault saved ground entering the turn as 6-5 favorite Lake Avenue temporarily took command over Water White. Nearing the top of the stretch, Rosario tipped out his charge, as Gibberish and Water White were kept to the inside and Lake Avenue pressed on from the outside.

Vault found a seam between Lake Avenue and Water White, splitting the contenders in surging to the front. Water White, encouraged by jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., gamely pursued Vault, but the 5-year-old Jump Start mare pulled away in a final time of 1:35.81 to notch her second consecutive win.

“She was a little slow out of there,” Rosario said. “Brad said to let her be comfortable where she was and come with a run and she did. She was pretty amazing.

“I was trying to stay inside, keep away from the dirt [kick back] and save some ground,” he added. “It looked like maybe I could go through inside, but then maybe not. So, I looked to go in between or maybe outside. When they split, I just went right in the middle [inside of Lake Avenue]. It was perfect.”

Owned by Kueber Racing, Barlar, Madaket Stables and Little Red Feather Racing, Vault entered off her first win of her campaign with a 1 3/4-length score against allowance company going 1 1/16 miles on March 27 at Oaklawn Park.

Her first foray over Belmont's Big Sandy was just her second career stakes appearance and first since a sixth-place effort in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher in July at Monmouth Park. She shipped in from her base at Churchill Downs and impressed her connections in her New York debut.

“They had her down in Kentucky and it took us a while to figure her out, but now it looks like we got the wheels spinning finally and she showed it today,” said Dustin Dugas, assistant to Cox. “The guys in Kentucky had her ready to roll. I'll talk to Brad and let him decide where we go next. He'll sit down with the partners and figure out a game plan from there.”

Vault improved to 7-6-2 in 21 career starts. She returned $8.80 on a $2 win wager.

EV Racing Stable's Water White, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, bested Our Super Freak by a length for second.

“I got a perfect trip,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “She got through on the inside and did everything right. We just got beat today. I was happy with it.”

Lake Avenue, Saguaro Row and Gibberish completed the order of finish that saw a finish of 1-thorugh-6 in program numerical order.

The 45th running of the Ruffian is named for the five-time Grade 1-winner and 1976 Hall of Fame inductee who was trained by Frank Whiteley, Jr. Ruffian, the 1974 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and 1975 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, broke down in a match race against Kentucky Derby-winner Foolish Pleasure in 1975. She is buried in the Belmont infield.

Live racing at Belmont resumes Thursday with a nine-race card that features a 3:05 p.m. Eastern first post.

Starting on May 1, Belmont Park re-opened to a limited number of spectators. All admission must be purchased in advance at nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

For comprehensive information on health and safety protocols in effect for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/visit/plan-your-visit.

The post Vault Wins Ruffian With Powerful Stretch Rally appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The one-turn mile over the main track honors Stuart Janney, Jr.'s late dual champion filly, who is recognized as one of the greatest distaffers of all time. Her notable Grade 1-winning accomplishments include triumphs in the Spinaway, Mother Goose, Acorn, and Coaching Club American Oaks with most of her victories being earned by wide margins. Trained by Frank Whitley, Jr., Ruffian earned a spot in the Hall of Fame in 1976 and is buried in the infield at Belmont Park.

Owned by Paul Winandy's LBD Stable and David Ingordo, the husband of trainer Cherie DeVaux, Our Super Freak made both of her 2021 starts at Oaklawn Park, where she finished second in the Pippin on January 23 and against two-time champion Monomoy Girl in the Grade 3 Bayakoa on February 28.

“This is my first time running her a one-turn mile which is what I think she wants to do,” DeVaux said. “She can run the two-turn mile, since she has good position early and tactical speed, but I'm very interested to see how she handles the one-turn mile at Belmont.”

Originally campaigned on the Mid-Atlantic circuit by Jamie Ness, Our Super Freak notched her only stakes victory in the restricted Shine Again in September 2019 at Laurel Park, marking her final start for Ness.

“We're always looking for prospects that could be appealing as a broodmare and she has a really nice physical,” DeVaux said. “She already had some black type on her, and we were looking to see if putting a horse like her in our program would help increase her value. We looked at her physical and past performances and she checked all the boxes. She's a strong, gorgeous filly with some good form.”

Last season, Our Super Freak garnered graded stakes black type when finishing second to subsequent New Jersey Horse of the Year Horologist in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher in July at Monmouth Park and third to Letruska in the Grade 3 Shuvee in August at Saratoga.

“She's been unlucky having faced a lot of extremely nice fillies and mares like Letruska and Monomoy Girl,” DeVaux said. “She's faced a lot of good horses. We haven't backed down or been afraid of anyone. We're trying to find a spot to give her the best opportunity to get a graded stakes win.”

DeVaux said she is looking forward to possibly training a sibling of Our Super Freak in the near future, after her husband purchased the mare's dam Thatcher.

“When we had this filly, my husband found the broodmare. She was baren last year when we got her and they bred her to Catalina Cruiser, so she now has a beautiful Catalina Cruiser colt,” DeVaux said.

Breaking from post 3, Our Super Freak will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

Our Super Freak's largest obstacle to victory comes from Godolphin homebred Lake Avenue, who has done no wrong in her pair of starts this season for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The 4-year-old daughter of Tapit out of Grade 1-winner Seventh Street broke a step slow in her 2021 debut going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park, but was nevertheless all class winning by 4 ½ lengths in a February 3 allowance optional claimer.

She displayed another open-length triumph when returning to stakes company with vigor in the Heavenly Prize Invitational on April 3 at Aqueduct. The pair of wins were the quite the turnaround for Lake Avenue, who had not tasted victory in four starts last year. During her juvenile campaign, Lake Avenue broke her maiden second out by 12 ¾ lengths at Aqueduct before a four-length win in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at the Big A, winning both races in frontrunning fashion.

Lake Avenue breaks from post 4 under Junior Alvarado.

Gibberish, a dark bay Lea filly trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., arrives at the Ruffian off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Royal Delta on February 20. Breaking alertly when second from the rail, Gibberish initially displayed her usual frontrunning tactics, but was challenged on the front end by graded stakes winner Mrs. Danvers and gave way around the far turn, just missing third by a half-length.

Gibberish won her three starts prior, with all victories taking place at different tracks. After a five-length triumph travelling the one-turn mile last September at Gulfstream Park, Gibberish won going the same distance at Gulfstream Park West before shipping to Delta Downs for a victory in the Treasure Chest on November 27 over a sloppy and sealed track.

Bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm, Gibberish was selected as a weanling from the St. George Sales consignment at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale, where she was bought for $230,000. She is out of the Pulpit mare Nippy, who is a half-sister to stakes-winners Economic Model, Your Love and Well Monied.

Gibberish, breaking from post 6, will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano who targets his third Ruffian win.

Rounding out the field is Water White [post 2, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], a last out four-length winner of an optional-claiming mile, who captured the 2020 Busher Invitational at Aqueduct, Saguaro Row [post 5, Trevor McCarthy], a two-time stakes winner going one turn at the Big A, as well as stakes-winner Vault [post 1, Joel Rosario].

The Ruffian is slated as Race 8 on Sunday's nine-race card. First post is 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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The La Troienne, for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track, is one of six graded stakes on Friday's 13-race program that begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern) and is headlined by the 146th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). The La Troienne will go as the day's 11th race with a 4:50 p.m. post time.

Also on the program is the 17th running of the $400,000 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet (GII) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the main track, the 65th running of the $300,000 Eight Belles presented by TwinSpires.com (GII) for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the main track, the 36th running of the $300,000 Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank (GII) for 3-year-old fillies going a mile on the turf and the 26th running of the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII) for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs on the grass.

Trained by Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl has won five Grade I races in her career that has produced more than $3 million in earnings. Two of her biggest victories came at Churchill Downs where she won the 2018 Kentucky Oaks and the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI).

Winner of the Ruffian (GII) in her most recent start, Monomoy Girl will be ridden in the La Troienne by Florent Geroux and break from post position eight.

Among the competition lined up to face Monomoy Girl is defending champion She's a Julie and Vexatious, who upset Midnight Bisou in Saratoga's Personal Ensign (GI) on Aug. 1.

Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim and Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing and Madaket Stables' She's a Julie notched her second Grade I victory in the Ogden Phipps at Belmont in June. Trained by Steve Asmussen, She's a Julie will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. and break from post position six.

Calumet Farm's Vexatious, fourth in the 2017 Kentucky Oaks in her lone main track try at Churchill Downs, was second in the Ruffian to Monomoy Girl before winning the Personal Ensign. Trained by Jack Sisterson, Vexatious will break from post position two under Tyler Gaffalione.

The field for the La Troienne, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Horologist (John Velazquez, 120 pounds), Vexatious (Gaffalione, 123), With Dignity (Julien Leparoux, 118), Saracosa (Martin Garcia, 118), Risky Mandate (David Cohen, 118), She's a Julie (Santana Jr., 123), Lady Kate (Javier Castellano, 118) and Monomoy Girl (Geroux, 123).

The post Monomoy Girl Takes On ‘Bisou Upsetter Vexatious In Friday’s La Troienne appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Owner Sol Kumin of Monomoy Stables said he was pleased with the winning effort.

“It was so great to see her back,” Kumin said. “She had been training so well going into the race and this was just so exciting to see.”

Monomoy Girl will look to build on Saturday's victory with a possible start in the Grade 1 La Troienne on September 4 at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles.

The 5-year-old Tapizar chestnut did not race at age 4 and was sent to WinStar Farm last spring after a mild case of colic and suffered an injury to her hamstring last fall when preparing for a potential comeback.

Prior to her Ruffian score, Monomoy Girl bested an optional claiming field over a sloppy main track going a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs by 2 ¾ lengths.

“Most likely she'll come back in the La Troienne,” Kumin said. “It's a good distance, there's good spacing between her races, and it's at Churchill Downs which is right at her front door. We'll discuss it further with the rest of the partners, but more than likely that's where you'll see her.”

Kumin is also a part owner of reigning Champion Older Filly Midnight Bisou as well as dual Grade 1 winner She's a Julie.

“Obviously the day is going to come where they'll have to face each other, but we'll keep them separate for the time being. I'm just very lucky to be involved with such great fillies. This is what the game is all about,” Kumin said.

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“This was a nice race for her to come back into stakes competition and now we can tackle some bigger races and a tougher field, too,” jockey Florent Geroux said.

Exactly.

With Monomoy Girl coming back off an 18-month layoff, trainer Brad Cox was in no hurry to throw her to the wolves. He started her off in an allowance race at Churchill Downs and then in the one-mile, one-turn Ruffian, a race that didn’t figure to include a stellar group of opponents for the 2018 Eclipse Award winner. But the time has come for Cox to get more aggressive and point for a race that will be a truer test.

There are a lot of good storylines out there this year. How far can Tiz the Law (Constitution) go in the strangest Triple Crown ever? What will Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) look like when he comes back for new trainer Bob Baffert? At age seven, will Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike) continue to thrive for trainer Al Stall, Jr. and be named Horse of the Year?

But nothing would compare to a rematch between Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). It’s enough that it would be a showdown between two superstar mares, but it’s the intrigue, uncertainties and twists that would make this such an exciting, unpredictable “good-for-the game” race.

The story of the rivalry between the two begins in the 2018 GI Kentucky Oaks. Monomoy Girl won that day and Midnight Bisou was third. She beat her again in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. In the GI Cotillion S. at Parx, Monomoy Girl crossed the wire in front, but was disqualified for bothering Midnight Bisou, who was placed first. Monomoy Girl was first in the 2018 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Midnight Bisou was third, making it a perfect four-for-four in terms of which filly crossed the wire ahead of the other.

With Monomoy Girl sidelined throughout 2019, Midnight Bisou flourished. She went seven for eight last year and was named champion older filly or mare. She’s been every bit as good, if not better, this year, finishing second when going against males in the $20-million Saudi Cup and then returning with a flourish, an 8 1/4-length winner in the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill. She’s scheduled to go next in the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 1.

That’s what we know. What we don’t know is who the better horse is today, Midnight Bisou or Monomoy Girl? It could be that Midnight Bisou took full advantage of Monomoy Girl’s absence and would not have done nearly as well if her rival were standing in her way. Or has Midnight Bisou improved so much that she is now the better horse of the two?

The only way to find out is for them to meet on the racetrack.

The most likely spot for that to happen would ordinarily be in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but there’s no certainty both will be there because Midnight Bisou’s connections have said their horse may run in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. There is still the possibility, however, that both could land in the same prep for the Breeders’ Cup, perhaps in the GII Beldame S. at Belmont or, more likely, the GI Spinster S. at Keeneland.

More often than not, the stars don’t align when it comes to getting star horses into the gate to face one another. Rachel Alexandra never did face Zenyatta. But this one might be different. The ownership groups behind both horses have already shown that they are game for anything. Midnight Bisou was slated to be retired at the end of last year, but came back for another season, which has included an adventurous trip to Saudi Arabia. The Monomoy Girl camp endured 18 months away from the races and brought their horse back when many would have retired her. Neither one is afraid of a challenge or will duck anyone. Whether it’s in the Breeders’ Cup or in a fall prep, they very well could face one another.

Should they meet, I would back Monomoy Girl. Until Midnight Bisou proves she can beat her, I can’t get past those four races in 2018 and Monomoy Girl looks like the time away has done nothing to diminish her skills. But the fun won’t be in being right or wrong, but in seeing two of the best of their generation proving their superiority on the racetrack. Fingers crossed that it happens.

Kudos to Swiss Skydiver and Her Team

Trainer Kenny McPeek and owner Peter Callahan could have gone the safe route and run Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) against fillies in the GI Central Bank Ashland S., a race she likely would have won. Instead, they decided to run their filly against boys in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S.

In the end, it may have cost them a Grade I win and the winner’s share of a $400,000 purse, but they need not look back or have any regrets. They are a rare pair that figured out that sometimes it’s worth giving your horse the ultimate test and trying to make history. Had Swiss Skydiver run seventh, they might have looked foolish. But she put in a valiant effort and finished second behind a quickly rising star in Art Collector (Bernardini). In defeat, she earned more respect and admiration than she possibly could have achieved by beating fillies for a fourth straight time in the Ashland.

Swiss Skydriver earned enough points to run in the GI Kentucky Derby, but McPeek said the GI Kentucky Oaks is now the plan. That’s the right choice. If she couldn’t win the Blue Grass, she’s not a Derby winner. What she is is an outstanding filly who put in a valiant effort for an owner and trainer who made this a Blue Grass to remember.

Keeneland Sheds Light on Late Odds Drops

There was another race last week where the odds plummeted on a horse at the very last second and, of course, the horse won. This time it happened at Keeneland. In the sixth race Friday, the odds on Early Mischief (Into Mischief) dropped from 10-1 to 5-1, which didn’t show up until the race was underway.

Someone at Keeneland understood how bad this must have looked. These odds drops are the result of the computer/rebate players pounding the pools at the very last second, betting so much that they can cause massive odds shifts. There’s nothing illegal about this, but every time it happens, it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth and leads some to believe the game is rigged. It’s a serious problem.

Keeneland decided to inform the public of exactly what happened. They investigated and then issued a statement, revealing that $16,000 was bet to win on Early Mischief in the last betting cycle. That same cycle accounted for 26% of the win pool.

That doesn’t solve a problem that is not going to go away, but Keeneland did everything it could to be transparent and let the wagering public know that it had their backs. Other tracks need to follow Keeneland’s lead.

The post The Week in Review: The Race Everyone Wants to See, Midnight Bisou Vs. Monomoy Girl appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Ridden by Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl, a 5-year-old by Tapizar racing for Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables LLC, The Elkstone Group LLC, and Bethlemen Stables LLC, paid $2.30 to win as the odds-on favorite and covered one mile on a good main track in 1:34.13.

Monomoy Girl tracked Mother Mother through opening fractions of :22.84 and :45.55 for the first half mile, moved to the lead without urging and took command at the top of the stretch after six furlongs in 1:09.40. Geroux gave her a couple of taps with his riding crop in the stretch and the issue was never in doubt.

The win was the 11th in 13 career starts for Monomoy Girl, whose 2018 victories included the G1 Kentucky Oaks and the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff against older fillies and mares.

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Trained by Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl arrives at the event off an allowance victory on May 16 at Churchill Downs contested at the Ruffian distance of a one-turn mile. Her 2 ¾-length score off a nearly 18-month layoff marked the 5-year-old debut for the chestnut daughter of Tapizar, whose previous start was a one-length victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November 2018 at Churchill Downs.

That Breeders' Cup win secured honors for Champion 3-Year-Old filly thanks to a sophomore campaign that featured five Grade 1 wins: the Ashland at Keeneland, the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, the Acorn at Belmont Park and the the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

She was sent to WinStar Farm in the spring of 2019 after a mild case of colic and suffered an injury to her hamstring last fall when preparing for a potential comeback.

Despite several setbacks in her return bid, Monomoy Girl made a strong return to action, winning over a sloppy and sealed Churchill track in May.

“We thought about the [Grade 1 Ogden Phipps [on June 13], but after such a long layoff it was a little quick back,” he added. “She's giving all the right signs and at this point she has to stay sound and do it. Saturday will be the next step. She went to allowance company now she's in a Grade 2 and we'll progress from there.”

The long-term goal for Monomoy Girl is an attempt at a repeat victory in the Grade 1, $3 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 7 at Keeneland Race Course.

“I think the ultimate goal is the Breeders Cup and the shot at another championship,” said Dubb. “There's no reason to stretch her out to two turns in her second start in 18 months. This seems like the logical spot. I've seen her and physically she looks fantastic. She's large, she's powerful and she's beautiful.”

Regular rider Florent Geroux will return to the irons aboard Monomoy Girl from post 5.

Four other fillies and mares will take on the champion, including Piedi Bianchi for trainer Carlos Martin, who won last year's Ruffian with Come Dancing.

The Indiana-bred daughter of Overanalyze won the Correction at Aqueduct two starts back before finishing sixth in the Harmony Lodge on June 5 last out.

Owned by Jay Oringer, Jack Bick and Madaket Stables, Piedi Bianchi is 4-3-3 in 15 career starts.

“She's doing great. I really wanted to stretch her out further and she's training well in blinkers,” Martin said. “It's an opportunity in a small field to get a big graded-stakes placing. I know Monomoy Girl on paper looks imposing, but my dad always said, 'if Secretariat can get beat, anybody can get beat.' So, we'll take our chances. I think a one-turn mile at Belmont will really suit her and Dylan Davis is a great young rider who will give it all he's got.”

Martin is influenced by the training style of the late Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens, who was known for not being afraid to face tough competition.

“When his horses were doing well, he only worried about his horse and he took some chances and often was rewarded,” Martin said. “You can't ever not run because of one horse. We're going to go for it. Hopefully it will be a great race and if we can't beat Monomoy Girl, we hope we can get a big graded-stakes placing in the Ruffian and that would be an honor as well.”

A victory with Piedi Bianchi in the Ruffian would make Martin the first trainer to score back-to-back editions of the race since Kiaran McLaughlin won with Wedding Toast (2015) and Cavorting (2016).

“It would be a dream come true to win the Ruffian two years in a row,” Martin said.

Piedi Bianchi, with blinkers on, will break from the inside post under Davis.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert seeks a third Ruffian triumph with Mother Mother, who will attempt to make amends after finishing fourth in the Harmony Lodge. The daughter of Pioneerof the Nile made her seasonal bow a winning one in Santa Anita's Kalookan Queen on January 12. A winner of the Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs during her 2-year-old campaign, Mother Mother is a three-time Grade 1-placed filly having run second in the Del Mar Debutante in only her second lifetime start, and was third in the La Brea at Santa Anita and the Starlet at Los Alamitos.

Jockey Manny Franco will pilot Mother Mother from post 2.

Mike Repole's Always Shopping, who won last year's Grade 2 Gazelle at Aqueduct, will look to add a graded stakes victory to her ledger is. Following the Gazelle, the daughter of Awesome Again was sixth in the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last May at Pimlico and did not return until April of this year, where she was third as the favorite in a one-mile allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park. She arrives at the Ruffian off a fourth in the Treasure Coast on June 4 over the turf at the South Florida oval.

A Kentucky homebred, Always Shopping is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed More Than Ready broodmare Stopshoppingmaria.

Always Shopping will leave from post 4 under Eric Cancel.

Completing the field is Calumet Farms' well-bred graded stakes winner Vexatious, who has found the winner's circle on both dirt and turf. Trained by Jack Sisterson, the gray daughter of Giant's Causeway out of multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Dream of Summer is a full-sister to Grade 1-winner and producer Creative Cause and is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Destin.

Vexatious' last victory took place in the Grade 3 Dowager over the Keeneland turf in October 2018, which she won via disqualification and has acquired graded stakes black type on dirt twice during her 3-year-old campaign when finishing third in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks and Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park.

Breaking from post 3, Vexatious will have the riding services of Jose Lezcano.

The Ruffian is named in honor of the multiple Grade 1-winning champion who was named Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in 1974 and became Champion 3-Year-Old Filly the following year, where she won the New York Triple Tiara [the Acorn, the Mother Goose and the Coaching Club American Oaks]. Trained by Frank Whitley, Ruffian was posthumously elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976 and is buried in Belmont Park's infield.

Slated as Race 4 on Saturday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:15 p.m. Eastern, the Ruffian will feature on America's Day at the Races, produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, and airing live on Fox Sports and MSG+. Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Monomoy Girl ‘Giving All The Right Signs’ Ahead Of Saturday’s Ruffian appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The acclaimed national telecast airs Thursday through Sunday on FS1, FS2 and MSG+ for a combined 20 ½ hours of racing and analysis of the best in thoroughbred racing from Belmont Park, which will take place just before the New York circuit shifts to Saratoga Race Course for its annual 40-day summer meet at the Spa. Highlighting the weekend action from Belmont is the Grade 2, $150,000 Ruffian on Saturday, July 11, featuring Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl, making her first graded race appearance since capturing the Breeders' Cup Distaff in November 2018.

Trained by Brad Cox, the talented 5-year-old Tapizar mare missed her entire 4-year-old season after a mild case of colic and an injury to her hamstring. She returned to action on May 16 with a 2 3/4-length win in an optional-claiming tilt contested on a sloppy Churchill Downs main track. Monomoy Girl's victory in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff capped an Eclipse Award-winning season, which included G1 victories in the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Acorn at Belmont Park and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga.

Weekend stakes action from Belmont Park kicks off on Friday with the 6th running of the $80,000 Gold Fever for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs on the dirt.

Sunday's 6th running of the $80,000 River Memories for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) going 1 ½ miles on the turf will be the final stakes race of the 25-day Belmont spring-summer meet. Closing Day will feature a special post time of 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

This week's America's Day at the Races schedule:

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, July 9:
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MSG+)

Friday, July 10:
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

Saturday. July 11:
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (FS2)
1:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (MSG+)

Sunday, July 12:
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (FS1)
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (FS2)
12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (MSG+)

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel, which boasts more than 40,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a number of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

America's Day at the Races is presented by America's Best Racing, Runhappy, and Claiborne Farm. This weekend's broadcast team includes Greg Wolf, Andy Serling, Maggie Wolfendale, Richard Migliore, Acacia Courtney and Jonathon Kinchen.

NYRA Bets is the official online wagering platform of the Belmont spring/summer meet available to customers across the United States. In addition to a host of weekly special offers, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 deposit match bonus to new members.

NYRA Bets provides fans the opportunity to wager on racing from tracks around the world at any time. The NYRA Bets app is available for download for iOS and Android at NYRA Bets App. Watch and wager on the best racing while earning points on every bet.

For further details on the new member bonus, visit NYRABets.com/#sign-up-bonus.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

The 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet continues through Sunday, July 12. Live racing is offered Thursday through Sunday with a first post of 1:15 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday and a special closing-day post time of 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The 2020 summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course kicks off on Thursday, July 16 and will feature 71 stakes worth $14.45 million, encompassing 39 graded stakes and 18 Grade 1s. The 40-day Saratoga meet continues through Monday, September 7.

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Trained by Brad Cox, the 5-year-old Tapizar mare worked in company with multiple stakes winner A Bit of Both through splits of 12.3, 24.4 and out in 1:02.1.

Castellano said he enjoyed his cameo appearance aboard Monomoy Girl while filling in for regular pilot Florent Geroux, who will be at Belmont next weekend to ride the chestnut in the Ruffian.

“Today it was a very straightforward work, a half-mile from the half-mile pole with another horse inside. I was outside tracking the other horse,” said Castellano. “She handled the track well. Even at the beginning when we started galloping she was splashing nice and smooth in a good rhythm, good balance and good mind. These good types of horses, they do that.”

Monomoy Girl arrived at Belmont Park on Wednesday, alongside Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile contender Warrior's Charge, to prepare for her first graded race since capturing the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November 2018.

That win capped an Eclipse Award-winning season for Monomoy Girl which included Grade 1 victories in the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Acorn at Belmont Park and the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The talented filly crossed the wire first – a neck in front of Midnight Bisou – in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx but was disqualified and placed second as the only blemish on her 3-year-old filly champion campaign.

Monomoy Girl, who missed the entirety of her 4-year-old season, was sent to WinStar Farm last spring after a mild case of colic and suffered an injury to her hamstring last fall when preparing for a potential comeback.

The champion chestnut returned to action on May 16 with a 2 3/4-length win in an optional-claiming tilt contested on a sloppy Churchill Downs main track, earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

Bred in Kentucky by FPF LLC and Highfield Ranch, Monomoy Girl is out of the Henny Hughes mare Drumette. A $100,000 purchase at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, she boasts a record of 12-10-2-0 with purse earnings in excess of $3 million.

The Grade 2 Ruffian is the final graded stakes of the 25-day Belmont spring/summer meet. Closing weekend will also include the $80,000 River Memories, a 1 1/2-mile stamina test on the turf for older fillies and mares, on Closing Day Sunday, July 12, before live racing shifts to Saratoga Race Course for the 40-day summer meet which runs from Thursday, July 16 through Labor Day, September 7.

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The daughter of Tapizar arrived at Belmont Park on Wednesday alongside Grade 1 Runhappy Met Mile contender Warrior's Charge for trainer Brad Cox. Following a sensational 3-year-old campaign in 2018, which included five Grade 1 victories in the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Acorn at Belmont Park, Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs, Monomoy Girl missed the entirety of her 4-year-old season.

She was sent to WinStar Farm last spring after a mild case of colic and suffered an injury to her hamstring last fall when preparing for a potential comeback.

Despite being forced to twice delay her long-anticipated return to action, Monomoy Girl put her winning ways on display last out, going a one-turn mile in a Churchill Downs allowance event that featured stakes winners Talk Veuve To Me and Fashion Faux Pas.

In her first start since defeating older fillies and mares in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Monomoy Girl tracked the pace over a sloppy main track sitting a close fifth early on and received her cue from jockey Florent Geroux around the far turn before drawing off to a 2 ¾-length victory.

“She's doing awesome. It would help if we could have run a week or two earlier but it's a great spot to jump off her last effort,” said Liz Crow of BSW/Crow Bloodstock who manages Monomoy Girl on behalf of owners Monomoy Stable, Michael Dubb, the Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables.

Crow indicated a second victory in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 7 at Keeneland Race Course is the end goal.

“She's deadly going a one turn mile,” Crow said. “Her speed figures in the Acorn, Rags to Riches and her last start were great. But from here, she'll see a mile and a sixteenth to a mile and an eighth. The Personal Ensign is a little quick back after the Ruffian, but we do know that the Breeders' Cup is definitely the long term.”

Crow, who signed the ticket for Monomoy Girl when she went through the sales ring at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was purchased for $100,000.

“It's amazing how much she's changed,” Crow said. “If you look at her you could mistake her for a colt. Her hips have widened, her shoulders have deepened, and looking her now as a 5-year-old she just doesn't look like the same horse. She's better now than she's ever been.”

Monomoy Girl has accumulated just over $3 million in lifetime earnings and has never finished worse than second in a dozen starts, 10 of which were victories.

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