Trainer Brad Cox’s Monomoy Girl ran a dead game race from the far outside post to take yesterday’s Kentucky Oaks.
Under Florent Geroux Monomoy Girl was able to find a nice stalking spot after moving in considerably by the time they hit the far turn. She took the lead easily turning for home but was quickly met with a stout challenge from Wonder Gadot under John Velazquez. They were abreast of one another mid-stretch and Wonder Gadot actually got a nose in front briefly. Monomoy Girl fought back on the inside and put away Wonder Gadot who ran big in defeat.
Johnny Velazquez lodged an objection against Florent Geroux for some minor bumping in the stretch where it did look like Monomoy Girl came out a tad but it was very minor and nobody lost any strides, momentum or any placing. The objection was not allowed.
Rayya who had shown speed in her previous races in Dubai and was running first time for Bob Baffert came away slow and was last and next to last early under Drayden Van Dyke. She never got involved. Race favorite Midnight Bisou checked in third. The Oaks was run in 1:49.3 over a track where the inside was the place to be but wasn’t particularly speedy or fast.
