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Monomoy Girl Delivers in Ruffian

Champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) was bet like she could not lose at 1-9 in Belmont’s GII Ruffian S. and duly delivered with a facile success in this five-horse affair. Glued to pacesetting Mother Mother’s (Pioneerof the Nile) outside hip through a :22.84 opening quarter, the chestnut stuck to her like glue through a :45.55 half-mile. Drawing even on the backstretch, Monomoy Girl stuck her head in front on the far turn and rolled clear in the lane. Vexatious (Giant’s Causeway) was the only one trying to run with the Eclipse winner in the lane, but proved no match, finishing two lengths short in second. It was 8 3/4 more lengths back to Piedi Bianchi (Overanalyze) in third.

“She’s a very special filly,” said Brad Cox’s assistant Dustin Dugas. “She showed up and ran well. She did everything we asked of her.”
“The only way she gets beat is when she’s by herself and she puts the breaks on me,” said winning pilot Florent Geroux. “I knew Mother Mother would show speed. She showed tactical speed when I rode her before and I know what she can do. I just let her [Mother Mother] go on and do the dirty work for me. At the three-eighths pole, Manny [Franco, aboard Mother Mother] was asking his filly pretty hard. I was waiting and I gave her a little tap to get her focused to the wire. 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.”

Monomoy Girl won six of her seven starts during her sophomore season in 2018 to clinch the Eclipse Award with five Grade Is topped by the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Given a brief freshening after her championship 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 last July, 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. Back with Cox once again at the start of 2020, Monomoy Girl made a triumphant return in a sloppy one-mile optional claimer at Churchill Downs May 16.

Pedigree Notes:

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 fill and she had a colt by Tapit May 25 of this year. Monomoy Girl’s 3-year-old half-brother 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.

Saturday, Belmont Park
RUFFIAN S.-GII, $145,500, Belmont, 7-11, 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:34.13, gd.
1–MONOMOY GIRL, 120, 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. $82,500. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo Filly, MGISW, 13-11-2-0, $3,086,118. *1/2 to Mr. Monomoy (Palace Malice), GSW, $327,162. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Vexatious, 120, m, 6, Giant’s Causeway–Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer. ($150,000 Ylg ’15 KEESEP). O-Calumet Farm; B-James C Weigel & Giant’s Causeway Syndicate LLC. (KY); T-Jack Sisterson. $30,000.
3–Piedi Bianchi, 120, m, 5, Overanalyze–Adore You, by Tactical Cat. ($60,000 Wlg ’15 KEENOV; $80,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP; $80,000 2yo ’17 OBSMAR). O-Jay Oringer, Jack Bick & Madaket Stables LLC; B-Deann & Greg Baer DVM (IN); T-Carlos F Martin. $18,000.
Margins: 2, 8 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.15, 14.80, 33.50.
Also Ran: Mother Mother, Always Shopping.
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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Monomoy Girl ‘Giving All The Right Signs’ Ahead Of Saturday’s Ruffian

Eclipse Award-winning mare Monomoy Girl will attempt to bolster her bid for another championship season in headlining a five-horse field in the 42nd running of Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Ruffian for older fillies and mares over Belmont Park's main track.

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.

“I talked to Brad today and he's expecting her to run well, she's training as well as she has ever trained,” said Sol Kumin of Monomoy Stables, who co-owns Monomoy Girl with Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables. “She obviously ran that first race but you still have your fingers crossed until Saturday. It's a good post, a good distance.

“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.

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Monomoy Girl’s Ruffian Start Featured On America’s Day At The Races

America's Day at the Races, produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, returns this Thursday, July 9 on FOX Sports and MSG+ for wall-to-wall television coverage of closing weekend of the 2020 Belmont spring/summer meet.

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.

Saturday's 42nd running of the Ruffian for 4-year-olds & up (fillies & mares) going one mile is named for the legendary filly of the mid-1970s and winner of 10 consecutive races, eight of them stakes. Foaled at Claiborne Farm, Ruffian was bred by Stuart S. Janney, Jr. and Barbara Phipps Janney, and trained by Frank Y. Whiteley, Jr. Asked for his strategy when aboard the big black filly, Ruffian's jockey Jacinto Vasquez had a simple answer: “Ruffian sets her own pace and gets (to the lead) on her own,” he said.

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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‘Better Now Than She’s Ever Been’: Champion Monomoy Girl Readies For Next Saturday’s Ruffian

Eclipse Award-winning mare Monomoy Girl will kick off her 2020 graded stakes action in attempt to make a case for Champion Older Mare in next Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Ruffian on July 11 at Belmont.

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.

Although the talented chestnut mare's career highlights have taken place in the two-turn Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup Distaff, Crow said she can thrive going a one-turn mile. She owns victories going the distance in the Grade 1 Acorn in June 2018 as well as the Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs during her 2-year-old campaign.

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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