Palace Malice’s 3-year-old colt Mr. Monomoy took his first step on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a dynamic victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star S. (G2), the first stakes win for the colt who is a half-brother to 3-year-old filly champion Monomoy Girl.
A TDN “Rising Star” following his maiden win at Churchill Downs in November, Mr. Monomoy was third in the LeComte S. (G3) last month and now sports a record of 2-1-1 in five starts and has earned $327,162 for owners Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb and Doheny Racing Stable. Mr. Monomoy was bred by FPF LLC and Highfield Ranch in Kentucky.
Breaking from post nine in the 1 1/8-mile race, Mr. Monomoy hustled to the lead under Florent Geroux. Setting a solid half-mile in :48.57, Mr. Monomony got a stern challenge from Blackberry Wine on the final turn, but shook him off in upper stretch and drew away smartly to win by 2 1/2-lengths.
“We had a really good start out of the gate,” the winning rider commented. “I was thinking about stalking, but when I saw no one was really going for the lead I took advantage of it and went for it. It worked really nicely for me. It was a good distance and there was no real competition up front. Last time he did have a bad trip, but it was partly the break. I’m really happy with him.”
“Obviously it will just be one race before the Derby,” added trainer Brad Cox. “What race that is, we don’t know. We’ve just got to see how he comes out of it and how some other horses run over the next few weeks and how things unfold and go from there.”
The win gave Mr. Monomoy a total of 52 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series, virtually assuring himself a starting spot in the Run for the Roses. The win also put Palace Malice up to second on the 2020 Second-Crop sire list. Besides Mr. Monomoy, Palace Malice’s other top 3-year-old colt Structor, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), is working towards his first start of the year in Florida with trainer Chad Brown.
