Monomoy Girl eases to Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff victory at Churchill Downs

The fast three-year-old chased down early pacesetter Wonder Gadot to then deny Wow Cat to earn a sixth victory in seven starts this season and a fifth Grade 1 success.

Under jockey Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl ran down the tiring Wonder Gadot to seize the race initiative in the latter stages but began to act as if her job was done. But with the chasing pack mounting one last effort, the winner was still a comfortable length in front at the line for the tenth win in 12 career starts.

Midnight Bisou came in third whilst Abel Tasman, runner-up in last year’s Longines Distaff and race favourite to go one better this year, produced a disappointing effort for the second consecutive start, fading to last.

With this Distaff success and previous Grade 1 wins this season including the Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, an Eclipse Award for Monomoy Girl as the top 3-year-old filly in North America could well be on the cards.

Charlie Appleby’s Wild Illusion was foiled by fellow Grade 1 treble-seeking Sistercharlie in a great finish to the Filly and Mare Turf.

William Buick’s mount came there with a surging run down the middle of the Churchill Downs straight, and she looked to be doing enough when overhauling the front-running A Raving Beauty inside the final furlong.

However, John Velazquez came wider still aboard Sistercharlie to deny the Godolphin raider by a neck at the line. Aiden O’Brien’s Magic Wand and Athena kept on to finish fourth and fifth without ever seriously threatening, while Ezyira took sixth for Dermot Weld.

Stormy Liberal made it back-to-back victories in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Ridden by Drayden van Dyke, Stormy Liberal wore down and denied World Of Trouble by a neck at the line, with Disco Partner coming in third, albeit over seven lengths adrift.