GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) took her 2018 record to a perfect four-for-four with a victory in Belmont's GI Acorn S. Saturday. Away well, the 3-5 chalk was content to sit back in third, running off the rail as 'TDN Rising Stars' Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon) and Talk Veuve to Me (Violence) battled through an opening quarter in :23.15 and a half in :46.48. Talk Veuve to Me edged clear of her two-time Grade I-winning rival approaching the far turn just as Monomoy Girl was gearing up three-wide to make her run. Moonshine Memories called it a day at the top of the stretch and Talk Veuve to Me and Monomoy Girl were left to decide matters. However, while Talk Veuve to Me made a creditable run, she proved no match for Monomoy Girl, who powered clear in the stretch to win by two lengths. Talk Veuve to Me finished another 4 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Gio Game (Gio Ponti). Moonshine Memories faded to fourth and champion juvenile filly Caledonia Road (Quality Road) never factored, finishing fifth.
“We were sitting off two fast fillies, they kind of showed the way, but it was a huge effort,” said winning trainer Brad Cox. “Florent [Geroux] did a great job asking her to run out of there and establish position. Those other two fillies away from her just a little bit, and she settled nicely down the backside and around the turn.”
As for what's next, Cox said, “Obviously, things can change as the year moves on, but I'm thinking right now the [GI] Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga [July 22] then maybe the [GI] Cotillion [S. at Parx Sept. 22] and then the Breeders' Cup, if everything goes to plan. She's done everything we've asked of her.”
A neck short of being a perfect four-for-four during her juvenile campaign, Monomoy Girl kicked off this season with a win in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds Feb. 17. Romping by 5 1/2 lengths when capturing her first Grade I in Keeneland's Ashland S. Apr. 7, the $100,000 KEESEP buy won a gritty battle with MGSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) to win the Oaks by a half-length on the First Friday in May.
Pedigree Notes:
Monomoy Girl's breeders purchased her dam Drumette, a daughter of MSW Endless Parade and half-sister to GSW Drum Major (Dynaformer), with the winner in utero for $75,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November sale. The 10-year-old mare is also responsible for a 2-year-old full-brother to Monomoy Girl named Cowboy Diplomacy; a yearling colt by Palace Malice; and a 2018 colt by Shackleford. Click here for a feature on her breeders.
Saturday, Belmont Park
ACORN S.-GI, $671,000, Belmont, 6-9, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:34.10, ft.
1–MONOMOY GIRL, 123, f, 3, 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 & Bethlehem Stables LLC; B-FPF LLC & Highfield Ranch (KY); T-Brad H Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $375,000. Lifetime Record: 8-7-1-0, $1,495,750. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”paul-sharp-double-congratulations”][bullet ad=”frankfort-park-farm-raised-grazed-at”][bullet ad=”bsw-public-auction-purchase”][bullet ad=”gainesway-consigned-by”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Talk Veuve to Me, 115, f, 3, by Violence&log=">Violence
1st Dam: Biblical Point, by Point Given
2nd Dam: Bibical Sense, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
3rd Dam: Star in the North, by Northern Dancer
($45,000 RNA Wlg '15 KEENOV; $20,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP; $95,000 RNA 2yo '17 OBSMAR). O-Team Valor International, Rodolphe Brisset & Stephen McKay; B-JSM Equine LLC (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. $130,000. [bullet ad=”fourstar-salesgrad”][bullet ad=”ricehorse-graduate”][bullet ad=”thorostride-new”]3–Gio Game, 117, f, 3, by Gio Ponti
1st Dam: Game for More, by More Than Ready
2nd Dam: Ermelinda, by Sea Hero
3rd Dam: Future of Gold, by Fountain of Gold
($47,000 RNA Ylg '16 KEESEP; $160,000 2yo '17 OBSAPR). O-John C Oxley; B-H Allen Poindexter (KY); T-Mark E Casse. $70,000. [bullet ad=”sbmtrainingandsales-brokenandtrained”][bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”]Margins: 2, 4 1/4, 3HF. Odds: 0.60, 4.00, 24.50.
Also Ran: Moonshine Memories, Caledonia Road, Starcloud. Scratched: Spectator.
Click for the Equineline.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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