HOT SPRINGS, AR – Trainer Brad Cox’s 1/5 heavy favorite Monomoy Girl proved why she was such a short price with a strong seasonal debut victory in Sunday’s $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
Monomoy Girl broke from the far post 6 under Florent Geroux and sat three-wide in the clear heading into the clubhouse turn.
Finite set the pace as expected, posting fractions of :24.60 and :49.41 while Monomoy Girl remained perched three-wide outside of Finite and Our Super Freak.
Our Super Freak took first run at the lead midway through the turn, forcing Geroux’s hand on Monomoy Girl to keep up.
The defending champion older female cut loose at the top of the stretch and drew off to post a handy 2-length score, completing the 1 1/16-mile sloppy (sealed) route in 1:45.92.
“It was a great trip,” Geroux said. “It set up great from the start with the outside post and short field. I let the horse in front of me do the dirty work and I just tucked in behind, on the outside, which was the smart thing today with the track condition. When I asked her turning for home, she gave me what she has all the time. She always delivers, so it’s easy to appreciate a champion. I’m the luckiest jockey in the world right now.”
Our Super Freak was 1 1/4 lengths clear of Finite. Chance to Shine, Istan Council, and Another Broad completed the order of finish.
Monomoy Girl’s win improved her record to 16-14-2-0 with $4,576,818 earned. Spendthrift Farm purchased the 6-year-old Tapizar mare for $9.5 million last November but kept her in training with Cox.
“I was proud of her,” Cox said. “She ran big. I think, just given the post and the way they broke and laid going into the first turn, it set up well for her. She always kind of gets that little bit of a wide trip. Nothing really out of the ordinary. It means a lot. I’m very proud of what she accomplished today. “
Monomoy Girl returned $2.40 to win, $2.10 to place, and $2.10 to show. Our Super Freak brought back $6 to place and $3 to show. Finite paid $2.20 to show.
