Coach Brad Cox has twice gained the distinguished Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, taking it first with Monomoy Lady in 2018 after which following it up two years later with Shedaresthedevil .
Rather less than 5 months earlier than the Could 2 Kentucky Oaks, Cox seems effectively positioned to probably win a 3rd. Apart from coaching Immersive , the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner and all-but-certain champion 2-year-old filly of 2024, he additionally circumstances Good Cheer , winner of the Nov. 30 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, and Muhimma , who improved to 3-for-3 taking the $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) for 2-year-old fillies Dec. 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Immersive and Good Cheer are first and second on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 40 and 20 factors, respectively, and Muhimma vaulted into the highest 10 by selecting up 10 factors with Saturday’s victory. The highest 5 Demoiselle finishers earned factors on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
Although Muhimma had not raced in a stakes race or in a route earlier than the 1 1/8-mile Demoiselle—her previous victories had are available Kentucky in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race and seven-furlong allowance optionally available claimer—the general public anticipated her Demoiselle success, backing her to 2-5 favoritism.
She lived as much as expectations, taking cost early below Florent Geroux within the two-turn race from her inside put up, and after setting comfy fractions of :23.94, :48.24, and 1:12.55, the towering grey and/or roan daughter of Munnings had sufficient left to face up to a stretch rally from late-running Ballerina d’Oro . Warding off the smaller filly, she maintained a transparent benefit to the wire, hitting the end line a size in entrance. She was timed in 1:49.84 for the space, topped by a closing eighth in :12.43.
Muhimma returned $2.80 to win.
Liam within the Mud , who tracked the early tempo below Flavien Prat, confirmed, forward of 5 a Facet in fourth and Carmen’s Sweet Jar in fifth.
Geroux and Cox gained the Demoiselle for the primary time, ending a streak of victories within the race from Corridor of Famer Todd Pletcher, a nine-time Demoiselle winner who had gained the earlier 4 runnings.
Pletcher began Carmen’s Sweet Jar Saturday.
“I am happy with what our crew has been in a position to do with these horses and I am happy with the horses,” Cox mentioned. “We have been put in a superb place with fillies which have responded and now our job is to show the web page on this yr and attempt to execute subsequent yr.”
Geroux, one in all Cox’s most utilized riders, has been aboard Muhimma all through her racing profession. He additionally rode Cox’s two prior Kentucky Oaks winners.
He mentioned he gave Muhimma “a couple of reminders down the lane to maintain her busy to the wire,” noting she was wanting round and dropping a little bit of focus within the stretch.
Bred in Kentucky out of the stakes-winning, grade 1-placed Tapit mare Princesa Carolina , Muhimma was a $700,000 buy by Shadwell from the Taylor Made Gross sales Company consignment to the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Munnings, the sire of Muhimma, stands subsequent yr at Ashford Stud close to Versailles, Ky., for $65,000. He was represented by one other graded winner on the cardboard when 2-year-old colt Poster gained the Remsen Stakes (G2) one race previous to the Demoiselle. His different graded stakes winners this yr embrace Howard Wolowitz and Jaxon Traveler .
“She’s large,” Cox mentioned of Muhimma. “She’s by an excellent sire, excellent broodmare sire, and the mare herself was good going lengthy.”
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