LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As if she’d never been away, MONOMOY GIRL cruised to victory Saturday at Churchill Downs under a confident ride from Florent Geroux.

The one-mile allowance contested over a muddy and drying-out track might not have unfolded exactly as trainer Brad Cox drew it up, but the results were quite familiar. Monomoy Girl drew off down the stretch after being in and amongst her six rivals through the opening six furlongs, finishing in 1:36.51 for her 10th win from 12 career starts.

It was the first start for Monomoy Girl since she clinched an Eclipse Award for top 3-year-old filly by winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill on Nov. 3, 2018. She returned $3 after prevailing by 2 3/4 lengths over Red Dane.

“We’re extremely proud of what she’s done,” said Cox, who trains 5-year-old Monomoy Girl for the partnership of Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Monomoy Stables, and Bethlehem Stables.

Geroux settled Monomoy Girl into a nice rhythm through the early stages, racing in mid-pack while in close quarters for much of those opening furlongs. Midway through the turn, the mare began to pull, and as she passed the quarter-pole, she angled out boldly for the drive, primed to put away front-running Talk Veuve to Me when eager to flaunt her speed.

“She was in a little tight, and for a second there around the half-mile pole, I was thinking, how much horse does Florent have?” said Cox, who trains 5-year-old Monomoy Girl for the partnership of Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Monomoy Stables, and Bethlehem Stables. “She’d been off a long time, you know.”

Passing the furlong pole, however, it was all over, with 32-1 shot Red Dane moving along to finish second.

“Once she made that move to the lead, I started feeling real confident,” said Cox.

Miss Bigly was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third and was followed by Estilo Femenino, Talk Veuve to Me, Fashion Faux Pas, and Lady Kate.

The Monomoy Girl comeback was the first of four allowances on opening day of the 26-day Churchill spring meet. It was run before just a few dozen “essential workers” as health restrictions caused by the coronavirus crisis has led Churchill to conduct racing without spectators for the first time in its 145-year history.

Cox said the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on closing day of the meet, June 27, is a logical next spot for Monomoy Girl, who was vanned earlier this week to Churchill after training for several weeks at Keeneland. The daughter of Tapizar has taken the long way back since her championship season of 2018, recovering first from colic surgery, then a pulled muscle, in returning to winning form. Along with the BC Distaff, her other most notable win also came at Churchill in the 2018 Kentucky Oaks.

The $2 exacta (2-4) paid $46.60, the $1 trifecta (2-4-1) returned $102.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-4-1-5) was worth $52.39.

Because of wet conditions from earlier rain, all turf racing on the 11-race opener was transferred to the main track. The first stakes of the 26-day meet are set for next Saturday, May 23, led by the Grade 3 Matt Winn, a Kentucky Derby qualifying race. The Derby has been rescheduled for Sept. 5 because of the pandemic.