'She's ready,' but Monomoy Girl's camp frustrated with lack of options

Liz Crow would like to see Monomoy Girl end her long layoff soon. To do so would also mean seeing racing resume in Kentucky during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On an NTRA media teleconference Tuesday, the bloodstock agent and racing manager didn't mince words with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's handling of racing amid the pandemic, with Churchill Downs continuing to await approval to resume business.

“I’m very frustrated with the way our governor has handled the situation in Kentucky,” Crow said. "I think we could have safely returned to racing a few weeks ago.”

Crow said the state's overall coronavirus statistics -- 4,146 confirmed cases and 213 deaths, well off national highs -- should lend to loosening restrictions that would allow for racing to resume.

“Kentucky hasn’t had a high number of deaths and a high number of cases, thank God,” said Crow, with Monomoy Girl working consistently at Keeneland. “Everyone is going up to the backside every morning to take care of their horses anyway. We’d only have to add a few additional people to make racing happen without spectators.”

Racing has been suspended in Kentucky since Turfway Park cut its meet three days short on March 25.

“I think it is hurting a lot of horsemen unnecessarily here," Crow said. "I don’t want to sound as if this isn’t a big deal, but I do think we can race safely without spectators. I really hope to see us back up and running here soon.

“We have Monomoy Girl ready to run off a year-and-a-half layoff and nowhere to run her, not knowing when Churchill is going to open. She’s really training well. She fired three bullets at Keeneland and she’s ready to go.”

The 2018 Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old filly hasn't raced since winning that year's Breeders' Cup Distaff under the Twin Spires. 

Monomoy Girl resumed training earlier this year after missing all of 2019 first due to an episode of colic, followed by a muscle strain that necessitated more time off.

Crow said Monomoy Girl’s trainer has her ready to return now.

“Brad Cox has done a really good job," she said. "You try not to breeze them every week without a game plan. I think he’s backed off of some of them (his other horses) and he’s just taking it day-by-day, which is all we can do.”