Unbeaten Edie Meeny Miny Mo steps up in G3 Monmouth Oaks
Trainer Miguel Vera is fully aware of the challenges facing his 3-year-old filly Edie Meeny Miny Mo in Saturday’s Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park.
She has never been around two turns, nor has she ever tried stakes company. And she’s the least experienced filly in the nine-horse field with only two career starts.
But Vera remains confident in her chances in the $250,000 1 1/16-mile feature for one important reason: Talent. Edie Meeny Miny Mo, he says, oozes it.
“It’s a big step up for her, but she deserves this chance,” said Vera. “She has shown she has the potential to be a special horse.”
A Maryland-bred daughter of Upstart-Plum by Pure Prize, Edie Meeny Miny Mo was unraced at 2 “because she’s a big filly who needed time to grow and develop,” said Vera.
Her debut on April 23 at Pimlico in a six-furlong maiden race was impressive – a 4 1/2-length win. But her follow-up in an optional $62,000 claimer at Pimlico on June 13 bordered on dazzling. She won that six-furlong dash by six lengths despite being steadied as Vera used the race to teach her to come off the pace. That effort earned her a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I know there is a question about the distance since her only two races have been six furlongs and she is trying a mile and a 16th now,” said the Maryland-based Vera. “I don’t think it will be a problem. I feel confident she can go that distance. She’s the kind of horse who can go a lot of different distances.
“I’m impressed by what she has done but not surprised by it. She showed she had talent from day one.”
A further endorsement of the filly’s ability: Victor Espinoza is coming in to ride. It is the only mount he has scheduled on the 12-race card.
“I’m very confident in her,” said Vera. “I think she is a real race horse. We’re going to find out more on Saturday. But she has always shown she should be in these kind of races.
“It’s a great race to see where we are with her.”
Owned by Holly Hill Stables LLC, Edie Meeny Miny Mo was purchased for $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.
“The day she breezed there, she left quite an impression,” said Vera. “She does everything right. Sometimes she does more than I ask her to do. But that’s her.”
For Vera, who has been training since 2011, Edie Meeny Mino Mo also represents the chance for an elusive graded-stakes victory. He has yet to get one.
“It would mean a lot to me,” he said. “But just to be in this kind of race, any graded race, is awesome. She has shown me the potential to be the best horse I have ever had.”
The 97th edition of the Monmouth Oaks also features a pair of John Servis-trainees in Midnight Obsession and Leader of the Band. They ran second and third, respectively, in the Delaware Oaks (G3) in their last start.