The connections of Monomoy Girl have been eager to get her back to the races after a year-plus layoff, and they'll have an opportunity to do so as Churchill Downs resumes racing this month.
In the track's newly released condition book is the inaugural $100,000 Shawnee Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile event for older fillies and mares.
Asked Monday whether the 5-year-old will point to the Shanwee, trainer trainer Brad Cox said it's "definitely under consideration." But, he added, the daughter of Tapizar is no sure thing to make it her comeback spot pending other opportunities that may arise around the country.
The 2018 Kentucky Oaks winner, who was last seen taking that season's Breeders' Cup Distaff, took home honors as champion 3-year-old filly. In 2019, a bout of colic the first half of the year and a muscle strain in the second prevented Monomoy Girl's encore.
Monomoy Girl has been training at Keeneland since March, with her latest workout a four-furlong breeze Saturday in 50.60 seconds.
"She's come along nice, and she's pretty close to being ready to run," Cox said. "She's accomplished a lot, she's moving forward every week. We're happy with what we're seeing physically, mentally and her fitness level. So she's close."
Nominations for the Shawnee close May 11. The race is one of several new stakes added to Churchill Downs' altered Spring Meet, which begins May 16. It will lead into June's Fleur de Lis (G2), the winner of which usually earns an automatic bid to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Michael Dubb, Sol Kumin's Monomoy Stables, the Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables campaign Monomoy Girl, who has won nine of 11 starts overall with victories as well in Keeneland's Ashland (G1), Belmont's Acorn Stakes (G1) and Saratoga's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).
