Wet Paint, Hoosier Philly square off in Monomoy Girl
Sunday’s barn notes by Kevin Kerstein (Coady photo of Wet Paint after winning Oaklawn Park’s Fantasy)
HENDERSON, Ky. (Sunday, June 11, 2023) – Godolphin’s multiple graded stakes winner Wet Paint is set for her return to the track following her fourth-place finish as the favorite in last month’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) when she faces fan favorite Hoosier Philly in Saturday’s second running of the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.
A compact field of six 3-year-old fillies entered the one-mile Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes which will have a post time of 4:11 p.m. (all times Central) as Race 8. First post for the 10-race program is 12:50 p.m. and will also feature the inaugural running of the Chorleywood Overnight Stakes in Race 9.
Wet Paint is the most accomplished filly that entered the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes having won four of seven lifetime starts. Her resume includes victories in the Honeybee Stakes (GIII), Fantasy Stakes (GIII) and Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn. Trained by Brad Cox, who also conditioned the race’s namesake Monomoy Girl, Wet Paint rallied from seven lengths off the early pace on the Kentucky Oaks but finished three lengths behind Pretty Mischievous. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione was named to ride Wet Paint for the first time and the duo will break from the rail.
Gold Standard Racing Stable’s Hoosier Philly is expected to have several of her Hoosier State connections making the short drive across the river to Henderson, Ky. for the Monomoy Girl. Trained by Tom Amoss, Hoosier Philly burst into stardom as a 2-year-old when she impressively won the $400,000 Golden Rod (GII) at Churchill Downs. The gray daughter of Into Mischief returned to Fair Grounds in February but only managed a third and fourth place finish, respectively, in the Rachel Alexandra (GII) and Fair Grounds Oaks (GII). When she didn’t qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, Amoss sent Hoosier Philly to Pimlico where she ran a game second behindTaxed in the Black Eyed Susan (GII). Regular rider Edgar Morales will be back in the saddle and break from post No. 4.
Here is the complete field for the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):
1. Wet Paint (Gaffalione, Cox)
2. Flamand (James Graham, Elias Lopez)
3. Never Tell Patti (Rafael Bejarano, Eric Reed)
4. Hoosier Philly (Morales, Amoss)
5. Champagne Calling (Julien Leparoux, Ian Wilkes)
6. Sabra Tuff (Rey Gutierrez, Dallas Stewart)
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Ellis Park on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
LOUISVILLE STAKES WINNER FOREIGN RELATIONS HEADLINES $175,000 CHORLEYWOOD OVERNIGHT STAKES – Double O Racing’s Foreign Relations, who recorded his first graded stakes triumph in last month’s $225,000 Louisville Stakes (Grade III), was entered against eight rivals in Saturday’s inaugural edition of the $175,000 Chorleywood Overnight Stakes at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.
The Chorleywood Stakes, run at 1 ¼ miles on turf, was slated as Race 9 of 10 with a post time of 4:50 p.m. (all times Central) The Ellis Park Saturday program will also feature the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Stakes in Race 8. First post is 12:50 p.m.
Trained by Conor Murphy, Foreign Relations pulled a 7-1 upset in the 1 ½-mile Louisville, run on May 20 at Churchill Downs. Prior to the Louisville Stakes, the gelded son of Karakontie (JPN) crossed the wire first by 4 ¼ lengths in a first-level allowance at Keeneland but was disqualified and placed 10th due to interference in the stretch. Jockey Declan Cannon, who rode Foreign Relations in the Louisville Stakes, will be back aboard for the Chorleywood and break from post No. 6.
Another accomplished turf specialist that entered the Chorleywood is Grade II winner Therapist. Owned by Michael Dubb, Therapist was a former $50,000 claim in January and two months later went on to win the Pan American Stakes (GII) at Gulfstream Park. The New York-bred son of Freud finished a disappointed eighth in the Louisville Stakes. Therapist is one of three horses in the Chorleywood trained by Mike Maker. The other two are Bay Street Money and Media Blitz. Therapist will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 2.
Here is the complete field for the Chorleywood in order of post positions (with jockey and trainer):
1. Hidden Stash (James Graham, Vicki Oliver)
2. Therapist (Gaffalione, Maker)
3. Fenwick Station (Martin Garcia, Eddie Kenneally)
4. Vivar (Julien Leparoux, Robert Medina)
5. Punch Hard (Rafael Bejarano, Whit Beckman)
6. Foreign Relations (Cannon, Murphy)
7. Bay Street Money (Gerardo Corrales, Maker)
8. Media Blitz (Ricardo Santana Jr., Maker)
9. Tiz the Bomb (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)
ELLIS PARK NEWS AND NOTES – Budding 3-year-old Extra Anejo returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since October when he cruised to victory in a first-level allowance event Saturday at Ellis Park. Extra Anejo earned a 94 Brisnet Speed Rating for his 6 ¼-length win.Winchell Thoroughbreds’ racing manager David Fiske said no next race plans have been discussed. … There was a $56,709 carryover in the 20-cent Pick 6 Jackpot which spanned Races 5-10 Sunday. First post was 12:50 p.m. … Following dark days Monday-Wednesday, racing will resume on a Thursday-Sunday schedule at the Pea Patch. Daily first post is 12:50 p.m. … Track announcer Paul Espinosa Jr. will fill in for Travis Stone Thursday-Sunday. Espinosa is the regular caller at Charles Town Races at Hollywood Casino and will call at Ellis Park for the first time. Stone will be back behind the mic June 22-July 2. … For more information about racing and gaming from Ellis Park, visit www.ellisparkracing.com.
