Press Release
China Horse Club International, WinStar Farm and SF Racing’s Quip completed his major preparation for Saturday’s $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) by working 5 furlongs in company in 1:00.40 over a fast track early Sunday at Keeneland.
With trainer Rodolphe Brisset aboard, Quip started two lengths in back of Potomac and finished on even terms in posting fractions of :12.60, :25, :47.20 and 1:00.40 in the work that was accomplished shortly after the track opened at 5:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.
“I was happy with it,” Brisset said. “We got lucky with the weather having the rain hold off. I had worked him twice on a sealed track at Fair Grounds and was not concerned about having to do that, but you prefer to have the track like it is this morning.”
Sunday’s work was the second for Quip since he won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 10. Quip worked a half-mile in :48.40 on March 24 at Tampa Bay Downs before shipping to Keeneland.
“He is training well and he is a good shipper,” Brisset said of Quip, who spent plenty of time here last year and won a two-turn allowance race by 6½ lengths over Keeneland’s main track.
In other Toyota Blue Grass news, Greg Hall and SAYJAY Racing’s Blended Citizen walked the shedrow Sunday morning at Keeneland a day after working 5 furlongs in 1:01. Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill, said Blended Citizen came out of the work well.
California Night worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.23 at Belmont Park on Saturday for trainer Mike Maker.
Monomoy Stables, Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables’ Monomoy Girl, the probable favorite for Saturday’s $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), breezed a half-mile in :47.20 Sundaymorning at Keeneland over a fast track.
Working in company with the 4-year-old maiden winner Compass Zone, Monomoy Girl started a length back and finished on even terms while posting fractions of :24, :47.40 and out 5 furlongs in :59.80.
“That was visually impressive,” said trainer Brad Cox, who claimed his second training title at the Fair Grounds meet that closed Saturday. “I had her going out in 1:00.03 and then 1:13.40 for three-quarters.”
A winner of four of five starts, Monomoy Girl comes into the Central Bank Ashland off a 2½-length victory in the Rachel Alexandra (G2) as the 9-10 favorite at Fair Grounds on Feb. 17.
Sunday’s work was the fifth for Monomoy Girl since her Rachel Alexandra victory. Cox opted for the Central Bank Ashland over the March 24 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) “because this race is Grade 1 and offers more money.”
Although Monomoy Girl never has raced at Keeneland, Sunday’s work was not her first over the track.
“She was here for a few months last year,” Cox said. “She was here and then went to Ellis Park before she debuted at Indiana Grand.”
Cox said Monomoy Girl would return to the track Tuesday and would have a gate schooling session sometime this week as well as Paddock schooling “Wednesday or Thursday or both.”
Zedan Racing Stables’ Tyfosha is considered a 60-40 proposition to start in the Central Bank Ashland over Sunday’s Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select, according to Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill. Tyfosha worked a half-mile in :50.20 here Saturday morning.
