“Colic” is a scary word for anyone who owns or loves horses. While most cases of colic can heal on their own or with little treatment, it has led to the death of many beloved horses across the world. It is no surprise, then, that when that scary word appeared next to the name “Monomoy Girl” in headlines, racing fans across the nation held their breath.
Monomoy Girl took the racing scene by storm in 2018. She was a three-year old filly who was growing stronger and stronger everyday. She won four consecutive grade one races (six had she not been disqualified to second in the Gr.1 Cotillion Stakes), making her the obvious heiress of the Champion Three-Year Old Title.
The filly’s connections considered running her in the Gr.1 Pegasus Stakes in January of 2019 after she won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but decided that it would be best to give her a good layoff and target a comeback in the Gr.1 Apple Blossom in April of 2019.
Monomoy Girl was refreshed at WinStar Farm and then enjoyed a sunny winter at Paul Sharp’s farm in Florida. By February she was back in training with Brad H. Cox and looking great. According to her connections, she had physically matured during her time off.
Everything was pointed towards a perfect four-year old debut for Monomoy Girl. However, the game of horse racing is a rollercoaster and Monomoy Girl started to shoot back down the hill. While shipping from Fair Grounds Race Course in Louisiana to Churchill Downs, Monomoy Girl was struck with an upset stomach. Thankfully, though, the hill she rolled down was not a tall one. Monomoy Girl had colic, but only a mild case. She received treatment at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky and then returned to WinStar Farm to recover. She was expected to be sidelined for four weeks and return to Cox’s barn by May 8th. However, it took the filly a bit longer to recover.
The filly was taking it easy at WinStar Farm. Liz Crow, partner of BSW Bloodstock, explained Monomoy Girl’s condition to BloodHorse in May. "When she got to WinStar, her weight was down to 1,044 pounds. Now she's 1,125. She's gaining weight every day and going out in the paddock and getting grass every day. She's back on a good eating schedule. She's where she should be in terms of her nutrition. Her coat looks good. I think we're definitely over the hump and headed in the right direction.”
Pictures showed Monomoy Girl looking fabulous, grazing and watching horses train at WinStar. She even had the opportunity to graze near Omaha Beach who was recovering from surgery at WinStar as well. By early June she was back under tack galloping at WinStar Farm. At 6 a.m. she was galloped, then turned out, and then put on the aquatred for ten minutes.
On July 14th, the 4-year old filly returned to Brad H. Cox’s barn at Churchill Downs. She gained two hundred pounds and is physically matured. She has been galloping for her trainer for a few days since her arrival and is looking better and better everyday.
They are taking it slow with her, allowing her to let them know when she is ready to breeze. When she is ready, they will decide when she will run again. Her fans and the racing world eagerly await her return. In her absence, four-year old filly Midnight Bisou has won five straight races. The world holds their breath for a rematch between champion Monomoy Girl and the ever improving Midnight Bisou.
According to her connections, Monomoy Girl is even bigger and stronger than she was as a three-year old. It’s almost crazy to think that a horse who was just the third filly to win the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in the same year (plus won three other grade one races) can be better.
Thankfully for Monomoy Girl, her bout of colic was just a mild case. She will be able to return, and her fans and connections believe it will be in a big way. With great new horses on the scene, it will be quite a tough task for Monomoy Girl. Time will tell if it is a task she will relish.
[Video: Monomoy Girl wins the 2018 Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Distaff]
Author - Kaeli Bartholomew: I run Champions of the Track as a way to spread the love of horse racing through writing, photography, and videography. The best way to increase the popularity and respect for this sport is by sharing stories and memories! Thank you for joining me on my mission to save and grow the sport of horse racing.
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Sources: Blood-Horse