Monomoy Girl goes for her second Longines Distaff

October 23, 2020

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 TrainerOwner
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 CeMichael  W. McCarthy  Bo Hirsch
26 Ollie’s CandyJohn 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
16Bonny South Brad Cox  Juddmonte Farms, Inc.
16Monomoy Girl Brad CoxMichael Dubb, Monomoy Stables LLC, The Elkstone Group, Bethlehem Stables
16SpeechMichael W. McCarthyEclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Madaket Stables LLC
14HorologistWilliam I. MottThere’s A Chance Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing LLC
8Dunbar RoadChad C. BrownWhite Birch Farm, Inc.

Photo: Monomoy Girl. Credit: Chelsea Durand

@jonathanstettin great read as always!

@Villani14 View testimonials

Facebook