Angelo Lieto Photo

Muhimma remains undefeated with G2 Demoiselle score

by Keith McCalmont

Shadwell Stable’s Muhimma made her stakes debut a winning one with a gate-to-wire score in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle, a nine-furlong route for juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Munnings grey entered from a pair of open-lengths scores in pace-pressing fashion at Churchill Downs. She passed her first two-turn test with flying colors to secure the maximum allotment of 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on offer to the top-five finishers.

Cox said the inside post necessitated a forward trip engineered by regular pilot Florent Geroux.

“From the one hole, I thought, break and get forward position,” Cox said. “I thought, on paper, the early speed rating had her as one of the faster horses in the race, so we wanted to try to take control of the race. I thought Florent did a good job of that.”

Muhimma was off a step slow but quickly made the lead with familiar foe Liam in the Dust pressing to her outside in second through an opening quarter-mile in 23.94 seconds over the fast main track.

Tip Line, at 96-1 odds under Francisco Martinez, advanced outside rivals down the backstretch to stalk from third position as Muhimma continued to show the way through a half-mile in 48.24. Muhimma opened up a notch into the final turn as the New York-bred Carmen’s Candy Jar surged up the rail and into contention with Ballerina d’Oro also getting into gear under Dylan Davis.

Muhimma opened up by 1 1/2-lengths at the stretch call and had plenty in reserve to score by one length over the late-running Ballerina d’Oro in a final time of 1:49.84 – besting the 1:50.37 time of colt Poster in the Grade 2 Remsen one race earlier. It was another 6 3/4-lengths back to Liam in the Dust in third with Five a Side and Carmen’s Candy Jar picking up the remaining Oaks qualifying points. Beauty Reigns, Bless the Broken, Tip Line, Fortuna Mia and Michelle rounded out the order of finish.

Geroux said he was pleased with how Muhimma responded in her two-turn debut.

“She started to cruise through very reasonable fractions. From there, I gave her a few reminders down the lane to keep her busy to the wire,” Geroux said. “She was kind of looking around at the end. If anything, I think she lost a little bit of focus. It was her first time running here from a long ship from Kentucky. The other fillies are pretty much all based here in New York, so it was a bit different.”

Davis indicated the Chad Brown-trained Ballerina d’Oro, who added blinkers, performed admirably in her main-track debut following three starts on turf that included a second-out graduation in September at Kentucky Downs.

“The post position was really tough being outside there in the 10,” Davis said. “Trying to break well and not be caught out wide was a tough position to be in. She found herself in the two path then the one-path in the second turn. She gave me a great run. I thought she ran really impressive, and maybe the dirt is what she likes. She handled the turf fine, but I think she took a step up.”

Muhimma graduated on debut in September at Churchill, annexing a maiden field by 7 1/2-lengths traveling 6 1/2-furlongs to register an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. She followed with another facile score in a seven-furlong optional-claimer on November 1 at the Louisville oval, opening by 4 1/2-lengths at the stretch call en route to a 5 1/2-length win over Liam in the Dust.

Cox said he was impressed with Muhimma’s first start in New York.

“First time 2-year-olds going that far, I thought they [the fractions] were quick enough and she fended off a horse making a run at her down the lane, so she showed some determination, and she showed she could handle the mile and an eighth,” Cox said.

In victory, Muhimma joined a stellar list of Cox-trained 2-year-old fillies that includes Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies-winner Immersive, whose 4-for-4 record includes Grade 1 wins in the Spinaway and Alcibiades; Grade 2 Golden Rod-winner Good Cheer; as well as Listed stakes winner Stunner and Grade 2-placed Eclatant.

“I’m proud of what our team has been able to do with these horses and I’m proud of the horses,” Cox said. “We’ve been put in a good position with fillies that have responded and now our job is to turn the page on this year and try to execute next year.”

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, Muhimma, a $700,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, banked $137,500 in victory. She is out of the multiple graded stakes-placed Tapit mare Princesa Carolina, while her second dam is dual Grade 1-winner Pure Clan. Muhimma returned $2.80 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card, featuring the $135,000 Garland of Roses in Race 8. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.