Monomoy Girl holds off Wonder Gadot for Kentucky Oaks win

Monomoy Girl overcame an outside post, a late charge and an objection to outlast Wonder Gadot by half a length and win the $1 million Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in front of a crowd of 113,510 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Wonder Gadot jockey Johnny Velazquez filed a post-race objection for a slight bump down the homestretch, but the victory stood for Monomoy Girl, a 2-1 favorite despite drawing the No. 14 post in the 14-horse field, and jockey Florent Geroux in the 1 1/8-mile race.

Trainer Brad Cox — who had two other entrants in the field — made no complaints after Monomoy Girl drew the outside post, telling reporters “it is what it is.”

“That’s horse racing,” he said. “She’s obviously a good filly and good horses overcome things.”

Monomoy Girl did just that, firing out of the gates and charging up the outside to join a cluster behind the leaders. On the first turn, Geroux settled the horse in behind leader Take Charge Paula and on the outside of Sassy Sienna.

Entering the far turn, Monomoy Girl took the lead on the outside, expanding the advantage and emerging on the homestretch with a bit of breathing room. But that space closed quickly, as Wonder Gadot came on strong on the outside exiting the final turn, closing to neck-and-neck as Velazquez and Geroux drew close enough to almost be brushing shoulders.

Wonder Gadot’s charge ultimately stalled just enough for Monomoy Girl to survive, finishing with a time of 1:49.13.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables, Monomoy Girl claimed her second consecutive Grade 1 victory and now has six wins and one second in seven career starts.

Midnight Bisou, who started from No. 10 with 5/2 odds, closed from the back of the pack to take third in a photo finish with Eskimo Kisses.

–Field Level Media