Study Guide: 2024 Monomoy Girl Stakes
Jun 12, 2024
Intricate rolled in the Golden Rod (Photo by Coady Media)
Two $175,000 stakes are taking place at Churchill Downs this Saturday. One is the Monomoy Girl S. for three-year-old fillies racing 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
Only half a dozen horses have entered the Monomoy Girl, but quality runs deep, and the winner will be well-positioned to enjoy success in the second half of 2024.
Let's meet the field:
Promisemeanempire
Promisemeanempire wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 3
Owner: Bill Dory, Gary Kropp, and Adam Ference
Breeder: Almar Farm
Trainer: Ed Moger Jr.
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in a Churchill Downs $100,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $133,183
Sire: Classic Empire
Dam: Promise Me More
Color: Dark bay/brown
Promisemeanempire has been gradually improving her Brisnet Speed ratings and exits a couple of top-three finishes against allowance optional claiming competition. But during the winter she finished fifth (7 1/2 lengths behind Band of Gold, see below) in the Martha Washington S., so Promisemeanempire may need additional improvement to turn the tables.
Our Pretty Woman
Our Pretty Woman wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media / Credit to Renee Torbit)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Breeder: Woods Edge Farm and Godolphin
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Luis Saez
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a Fair Grounds allowance.
Total Earnings: $165,200
Sire: Medaglia d'Oro
Dam: Dazzletown
Color: Dark bay/brown
Our Pretty Woman misfired against tough competition in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last time out, finishing 11th. But she failed to make the lead while racing wide that day. Two starts back she carved out the pace in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) before battling to finish second by three-quarters of a length, so if Our Pretty Woman secures the lead while dropping in class for the Monomoy Girl, she'll be a formidable win threat.
Lucky Speech
Lucky Speech wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Anthony Tate
Breeder: Delia Nash and Jun Park
Trainer: Joe Sharp
Jockey: Axel Concepcion
Top Speed Rating: (82) when breaking her maiden at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $78,230
Sire: Audible
Dam: Luckyallmylife
Color: Bay
Lucky Speech was beaten in her first four starts, but she broke through when switching from turf to dirt for a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last month, tracking the pace before seizing command to dominate by 7 3/4 lengths. Her career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against the Monomoy Girl field, but Lucky Speech is progressing in the right direction and shouldn't be underestimated.
Band of Gold
Band of Gold (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Dixiana Farms
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (91) when winning the Martha Washington S. at Oaklawn Park.
Total Earnings: $223,730
Sire: Preservationist
Dam: Play for Gold
Color: Gray/roan
Winner of the Martha Washington S. during the winter at Oaklawn Park, Band of Gold has subsequently finished off the board in three straight stakes. But one was on turf and another was on synthetic, so getting back on dirt may trigger a rebound from this stretch-running filly. Her best effort is good enough to challenge for victory here.
Merasol Sugar
Lucky Speech wins the at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Poindexter Thoroughbreds
Breeder: H. Allen Poindexter
Trainer: John A. Ortiz
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Top Speed Rating: (83) when finishing third in an Oaklawn Park $125,000 allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $119,810
Sire: Constitution
Dam: Chanel Number Mine
Color: Gray/roan
Merasol Sugar wired her debut racing one mile at Oaklawn by three lengths, earning an 83 Brisnet Speed rating. But she hasn't improved on that number in four starts since then, so Merasol Sugar may need a step forward to challenge for top honors against the Monomoy Girl field.
Intricate
Intricate rolled in the Golden Rod (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Bradley Thoroughbreds, Laura Leigh Stable, Scott Estes, and Cambron Equine
Breeder: LBD Stable
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Golden Rod (G2) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $370,180
Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Complex Analysis
Color: Chestnut
Intricate ran below form when last seen in the Fair Grounds Oaks, finishing fifth while coming home nearly 11 lengths behind Our Pretty Woman. But Intricate had previously finished second in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) and first in the Golden Rod (G2); in the latter race she defeated future Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna. She's been freshened for nearly three months since the Fair Grounds Oaks and is eligible to rebound in a big way under Tyler Gaffalione, one of the leading jockeys at Churchill Downs this meet.
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