LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Breeders’ Cup race can often reveal a great horse, but not necessarily a viable Hall of Fame candidate. The Breeders’ Cup Distaff seemed to confirm both Saturday, when Monomoy Girl capped a storybook career with a rousing victory in the $2 million race at Keeneland. Confidently ridden by Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl swept to command with a quarter-mile remaining in the 1 1/8-mile race and not only proceeded to give her trainer, Brad Cox, a record-tying fourth Breeders’ Cup victory this weekend, but also appeared to clinch a spot in the Racing Hall of Fame when she becomes eligible for election in five years. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of this mare,” said Cox. Monomoy Girl, the 2018 Distaff winner, also became just the fourth two-time winner in the 37-year history of the race, following Bayakoa (1989-90), Royal Delta (2011-12), and Beholder (2013, 2016). Bet down to even-money favoritism in a field of 10 fillies and mares, Monomoy Girl conceded ground on both turns, maintaining a smooth rhythm while kept several paths off the inner rail and in the clear, just a few lengths off the early leaders, Lady Kate and Harvest Moon. Leaving the quarter pole, without much urging from Geroux, she took the lead from Harvest Moon while Swiss Skydiver, the 2-1 second choice, suddenly emerged as a threat after saving ground on the final turn and cutting the corner with Robby Albarado up. A dramatic duel between 5-year-old Monomoy Girl and 3-year-old Swiss Skydiver appeared imminent at that point, but Swiss Skydiver did not fulfill her end of the deal, beating a steady fade in the final furlong to finish a disappointing seventh. :: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more. “I had a great opportunity turning for home to get on through there and get heads-up with the champ,” said Albarado, who five weeks beforehand won a historic renewal of the Preakness at Pimlico aboard the star filly. “But she just didn’t have it today.” Swiss Skydiver was farther back than normal following a stumbling start. Her defeat kept trainer Kenny McPeek winless with 34 BC starts. “It maybe cost her a length or two position-wise, but it didn’t cost us the win,” said Albarado. “I’m disappointed we didn’t win, but I’m not disappointed in her. She’s a special filly and everybody knows her.” Instead of Swiss Skydiver giving closest chase to the wire, it was Valiance, a last-out winner of the Spinster at Keeneland, who was along for second at 14-1. Dunbar Road was third with a belated run, with Harvest Moon holding fourth. Monomoy Girl returned $4 after finishing in 1:47.84 over a fast track, which translated to a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapizar now has finished first in 14 of 15 starts, with one loss coming by a neck when she was 2 and another coming when she was disqualified to second in the 2018 Cotillion at Parx. Officially, she’s 13 for 15, with career earnings now standing at $4,426,818. Her resume is replete with major victories, even with a sizable gap between races. She won the Kentucky Oaks and BC Distaff in 2018, then did not race for 18 months-plus after suffering first from colic, then from a pulled gluteal muscle. She returned in May for a 2020 campaign in which she is now 4 for 4, including a win in the Grade 1 La Troienne on Kentucky Derby weekend as her final prep toward her return to the Breeders’ Cup. Monomoy Girl is owned by Monomoy Stables, Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables. Cox credited the group with being “great sportsmen” for waiting out the lengthy delay in action and allowing him to gear the mare back up for a 5-year-old season. Meanwhile, Cox tied the record held by Richard Mandella for most wins by a trainer at a single Breeders’ Cup event by winning four races. Aunt Pearl (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Essential Quality (Juvenile) won Friday, followed by Knicks Go (Dirt Mile) and Monomoy Girl on Saturday. Mandella won four BC races, including a dead-heat, at Santa Anita in 2003, when the Breeders’ Cup was still a one-day event and was just eight races. “This feels like Richard Mandella,” joked Cox. “Seriously, this is amazing. It’s a tribute to my team, my owners, so many other people. These horses showed up on the big day, when it counted.” Cox had a chance to break the record when Arklow went postward some 40 minutes later in the BC Turf, but the horse finished sixth at 10-1. “Mandella won four in just one day, which is incredible,” said Cox. “But we’ll take four in two days. It’s unbelievable, really.” Monomoy Girl is entered to be sold Sunday at auction at Fasig-Tipton just across town in Lexington. The ownership partners kept the door cracked as to whether she will be withdrawn to race again, although one, Sol Kumin of Bethlehem Stables, said at the post-race press conference that “she is scheduled to be sold, and that is the plan.” After the top four, the order was Ce Ce, Point of Honor, Swiss Skydiver, Ollie’s Candy, Horologist, and Lady Kate. The $2 exacta (10-8) paid $42.60, the $1 trifecta (10-8-3) returned $262.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (10-8-3-2) was worth $179.01.