Monomoy Girl, already considered the leading Kentucky Oaks (G1) candidate, solidified her status as the country’s top 3-year-old filly with a dominant wire-to-wire victory in the Ashland Stakes (G1) April 7 at Keeneland.
With Florent Geroux aboard, Monomoy Girl grabbed the early lead soon after the start and never looked back. The Brad Cox trainee entered the stretch well clear of the field, and, as the official chart noted, “drew off under a hand ride to score in stylish fashion.”
Monomoy Girl crossed the wire 5½ lengths in front of late-closing Eskimo Kisses and earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
“It’s special,” Cox said after the Ashland. “It means a lot to me that we’ve had her since her 2-year-old year. She’s really developed. We thought a lot of her last year and she’s obviously taken it to the next level.”
Cox indicated the daughter of Gainesway’s Tapit stallion Tapizar would continue to Churchill Downs for the May 4 Oaks.
Monomoy Girl was bred in Kentucky by Brendan and Olive Gallagher’s Frankfort Park Farm and Michael Hernon’s Highfield Ranch. The filly was a $100,000 Keeneland September acquisition by BSW Bloodstock agent Liz Crow for owners Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables.