Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Fun Down in the Bayou

We’ll stick to the 3-year-old theme again this week after a few exciting performances at Fair Grounds over the weekend. The Kentucky Derby trail is heating up in a major way, but the fillies are starting to strut their stuff on the road to the Kentucky Oaks, too. Here are the three horses who we thought made the biggest impression last weekend: 

1. Mr. Monomoy 

Move out of my way, big sister! Before last Saturday, Mr. Monomoy was best known as Monomoy Girl’s little brother. However, that all changed when he won Division 1 of the Risen Star Stakes (G2) in wire-to-wire fashion. Right from the gate, the colt was ready to run and jumped out to a nice, early lead. From there, it seemed to come easy for him, as he held off all challengers for a 2 1/2-length triumph. The Fair Grounds track definitely played favorable to front-runners on Saturday, which aided Mr. Monomoy in victory. Regardless of that, the Brad Cox trainee has earned his way into the Kentucky Derby with this victory. 

2. Finite 

The fillies have made some serious moves in recent weeks, a trend that continued in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) when Finite pulled off a 4 3/4-length romp. After stalking the early pace, the Steve Asmussen trainee jumped to a commanding lead at the top of the stretch, but no other horse seemed to rally. British Idiom, the 2-Year-Old Filly of the Year, finished second but never made up ground on the leader. After the race, Asmussen suggested that she will run once more, in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), before taking her shot in Kentucky. Fair Grounds has produced four of the past six Kentucky Oaks winners. 

3. Modernist 

Trainer Bill Mott is back in the hunt for the Kentucky Derby! After winning the race last year, he has another shot this year after Modernist picked up a front-running score in Division 2 of the Risen Star Stakes (G2). The Uncle Mo colt sat just off of Ny Traffic‘s early pace before taking the lead at the top of the stretch. From that point, he was able to hold on for a 1-length victory with a determined effort. After the race, Mott mentioned that this horse is further along mentally than Country House was at this point, which makes him a prospect to keep an eye on moving forward.