Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables’ MONOMOY GIRL, who won the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs in 2018, will try to add to her Hall of Fame resume when she starts as the favorite in this year’s renewal. Run at 1 1/8 miles, the $2 million Distaff would be a remarkable story should the 5-year-old daughter of 2012 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar double up, as she missed her entire 4-year-old season after a bout of colic and a pulled muscle. Monomoy Girl, who is 12-for-14 lifetime, with six Grade 1 wins, is 3-for-3 this year, including Churchill’s La Troienne (G1) Sept. 4.
Just how strong a favorite Monomoy Girl will be depends on whether Swiss Skydiver runs in the race. The chestnut daughter of Daredevil is 6-for-11 lifetime, including a trio of easy graded stakes wins against 3-year-old fillies earlier this year.
Three “Win and You’re In” automatic qualifiers will add to the depth of the Distaff. Alice Bamford and Michael Tabor’s HARVEST MOON earned a Distaff berth when she won Santa Anita’s Zenyatta (G2) Sept. 27 for trainer Simon Callaghan, while Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin Schwartz, and China Horse Club Ltd.’s VALIANCE did the same in Keeneland’s Oct. Oct. 4 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for trainer Todd Pletcher. Calumet Farm’s VEXATIOUS earned her berth when she beat Midnight Bisou in Saratoga’s Personal Ensign (G1) in August for trainer Jack Sisterson.
Grade 1 winners CE CE, DUNBAR ROAD, HARD NOT TO LOVE, OLLIE’S CANDY, and SPEECH are also expected for what is shaping up as a stellar renewal of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, as are graded stakes winners BONNY SOUTH, HOROLOGIST, and POINT OF HONOR.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff – Breeders’ Cup Challenge (BCC) Winners and Points Leaders
| Points | Horse | Trainer | Owner |
| BCC Winner | Swiss Skydiver | Kenneth G. McPeek | Peter J. Callahan |
| BCC Winner | Vexatious | Jack Sisterson | Calumet Farm, LLC |
| BCC Winner | Harvest Moon | Simon Callaghan | Alice Bamford, Michael Tabor |
| BCC Winner | Valiance | Todd A. Pletcher | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Martin S. Schwartz, China Horse Club International Ltd. |
| 26 | Ce Ce | Michael W. McCarthy | Bo Hirsch |
| 26 | Ollie’s Candy | John W. Sadler | Paul and Karen Eggert |
| 20 | Hard Not to Love | John A. Shirreffs | Mercedes Stables LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc., Scott Dilworth, Dorothy Ingordo, Ingordo Bloodstock LLC, F. Steve Mooney |
| 18 | Point of Honor | George Weaver | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Stetson Racing, LLC |
| 16 | Bonny South | Brad Cox | Juddmonte Farms, Inc. |
| 16 | Monomoy Girl | Brad Cox | Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables LLC, The Elkstone Group, Bethlehem Stables |
| 16 | Speech | Michael W. McCarthy | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables LLC |
| 14 | Horologist | William I. Mott | There’s A Chance Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing LLC |
| 8 | Dunbar Road | Chad C. Brown | White Birch Farm, Inc. |
Photo: Monomoy Girl. Credit: Chelsea Durand
