No Standout in Monmouth Oaks

Saturday’s GIII Monmouth Oaks produced the winners of the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff in consecutive years (Spain, 2000; Unbridled Elaine, 2001) and in 1999, Silverbulletday–the previous year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine–gave trainer Bob Baffert his only victory in the race to date. While it is not exceptionally likely there is anything of that quality in this year’s renewal, the 8 1/2-furlong test should prove challenging to handicappers.

Eskenformoney (Eskendereya) is the mild favorite on the morning line at odds of 7-2 and looks–on paper at a minimum–to be the class of the bunch. A close third in the GII Davona Dale S. and second in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks over the winter, the $225,000 Keeneland September grad was well-beaten behind Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection) in the GI Kentucky Oaks May 1 and most recently dead heated for fifth in back of Include Betty (Include) in the GI Mother Goose S. at Belmont June 27. The waters are far shallower here and Eskenformoney gets Joe Bravo in an attempt to give trainer Todd Pletcher a fourth win in the race.

Chad Brown has yet to post a victory in the event, but in the form of Dell Ridge Farm’s Lady Serena (Bernardini), he sends out unequivocally the most fashionably bred runner of the bunch. A close relative of ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honor Code (A.P. Indy) and a half-sister to MGSW Noble Tune (Unbridled’s Song), the homebred has really put it together in two starts since returning from Florida, winning her maiden by 7 1/2 lengths May 3 before adding a Belmont-eve allowance June 5. She tries a two-turn route for the first time here. The Brown barn is also represented by Belmont allowance winner Delightful Joy (Tapit), who will look to give her sire a second straight Oaks (Cassatt, 2014).

New Jersey-bred Love Came to Town (Medallist) could prove the exotics kicker. The Sleeter Family homebred was far too tough for state-bred rivals, winning six-furlong events by a combined 12 1/2 lengths in June and July, and showed she could handle a route of ground with a 9 1/2-length defeat of open rivals going a mile at Parx Aug. 3. The shape of this race could work in her favor.

Larry Jones saddled Cassatt last year as the team was sending out the Monmouth Oaks winner for the fourth time in seven years. Calumet Farm’s White Clover (Exchange Rate) posted a 7-1 upset of Delaware’s Our Mims S. June 3, but was found wanting when seventh in that track’s GIII Oaks July 11.