Race Previews Ruffian Preview: Monomoy Girl Back to Face Graded Foes July 10, 2020 Monomoy Girl after winning the 2018 CCA Oaks (Credit: Michael Spector) Race Previews Ruffian Preview: Monomoy Girl Back to Face Graded Foes July 10, 2020 By: Curtis "Magic" Kalleward twitteremail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article ELMONT, NY – The 2018 Eclise Award Champion Monomoy Girl is back to face graded stakes foes in Saturday’s $150,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2), a 1 1/8-mile main track event for older fillies and mares at Belmont Park. ( Content Continues Below Ad ) At one point in time one of the most dominating equine athletes in the world, Monomoy Girl capped off a nearly-spotless 2018 campaign (7-6-1-0 record) by winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). The 5-year-old Tapizar mare missed all of 2019 with various ailments, but trainer Brad Cox patiently brought her along and waited until this past May 16 to place her back into competition. Monomoy Girl’s first start in over 18 months was a trouncing of optional claiming foes at Churchill Downs, showed that like a fine wine, she may have improved with age. “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 (at Churchill Downs), but you still have your fingers crossed until Saturday.” Monomoy Girl in the Churchill Downs paddock prior to her return (Credit: Coady Photography) With a record of 12-10-2-0 and a hair over $3 million earned, Monomoy Girl is the reason why the Ruffian will not offer show betting. She is such a strong favorite that she was given a 2/5 morning line (rarely seen albeit in extreme circumstances) against her four competitors. The Bob Baffert-trained Mother Mother presents the biggest challenge on paper, with 2 dirt stakes scores to her name. This will be her first time handling this distance, but her previous longest race saw her miss by a neck in 2018’s 1 1/16-mile Starlet Stakes (G1). Piedi Bianchi adds blinkers for the first time as she stretches out following a series of successful sprints. She is twice Grade 1-placed routing on dirt and won a small stakes at Indiana Grand in 2018 while traversing 1 1/16 miles. Always Shopping and Vexatious show up after most recently running in separate turf races. Always Shopping previously won a pair of Kentucky Oaks (G1) preps last year, both while going this distance at Aqueduct. Vexatious has two stakes victories on her resume, but each came on turf.
Kentucky Derby First Look and NHL/NBA Playoff Update | Dudes Who Bet Sports 189 Aaron and Papa Dude discuss the probable for the 150th… Read More
2024 Kentucky Derby Horse Profiles – How Each Horse Can Win | Blinkers Off 662 The Racing Dudes take a look at the contenders of… Read More
Keeneland Pick 5 | The Magic Mike Show 542 The Magic Mike Show guys preview & give their tickets… Read More
NBA & NHL Playoff Previews & Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 188 Aaron and Papa Dude discuss OJ Simpson, UConn’s national championship… Read More
2024 Kentucky Derby Top 10 & Rapid-Fire Picks | Blinkers Off 661 The Racing Dudes reveal their Top 10 Kentucky Derby prospects… Read More
Aqueduct Picks | Woodhaven Stakes 2024 West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey’s Grade 1-winner Carson’s Run… Read More
Santa Anita Park Picks | Royal Heroine Stakes 2024 Multiple graded stakes winner Bellabel and a new arrival to… Read More
Santa Anita Park Picks | Kona Gold Stakes 2024 One of the nation’s leading sprinters, The Chosen Vron, is… Read More
Kentucky Derby 2024 Latest News & Top Contenders | It’s The Final Countdown Aaron discusses the latest 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) news, then… Read More
Fierceness | Get To Know The 2024 Kentucky Derby Contender Jared discusses Fierceness, a contender for the 2024 Kentucky Derby… Read More