“Wonder” about the “Girl”

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

Monomoy Girl; Coady Photography

The king is dead. Long live the king.

With the unexpected retirement of Justify because of an unspecified leg injury, the late-summer/fall 3-year-old campaign will take on a different look.

A mighty force will have to rise from the sophomore class to dethrone the Triple Crown champ for year-end honors.

Good Magic took a step in that direction on July 29 when he won the Haskell at Monmouth Park. The son of Curlin will have to run the table and that includes winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the second season if he wants to be considered for 3-year-old and Horse of the Year honors.

At present there is no older horse that can lay claim to Horse of the Year. Yes, Gun Runner won the Pegasus but he was retired shortly after and he will be forgotten by the time December rolls around and voting begins. West Coast hasn’t been heard of since the Dubai World Cup and he did not win that race.

Good Magic’s Haskell win was workmanlike and no other colt posed a threat in the race. He will be pointed to the Travers at the end of August at Saratoga in upstate New York.

Speaking of the Spa, the Jim Dandy on July 28 was less than impressive. The five-horse field took turns looking for the lead and Tenfold was the last horse standing. Vino Rosso made a late run, but once again didn’t get there.

Audible is a taking a break at a farm in Kentucky and no date has been set for his return.

Two of the brightest stars in the 3-year-old ranks are fillies. Monomoy Girl and Wonder Gadot have been dominating the other girls and in Wonder Gadot’s case, boys. Wonder Gadot has won two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown and her connections say she’s going to run in the Travers. She has nothing to lose by doing this and only will enhance her resume.

Monomoy Girl, who just ran away with the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga, is going to skip the Alabama on Aug. 18 at the Spa and may take on older mares later at the meet. This does her no harm and only increases the value of her stock.

Getting back to the boys, Hofburg easily won the Curlin Stakes on July 27 at Saratoga and he is being pointed to the Travers.

Earlier in the year I thought there were 10 good 3-year-olds, now I think you could count the good ones on one hand and that includes a couple of girls.

Cover Photo: Wonder Gadot; Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo