LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Horses are once again flying around the track at Churchill Downs. It is opening day of the Spring Meet.

2018 Breeder's Cup Distaff winner Monomoy Girl returned to her winning ways Saturday winning a one-mile allowance event in the day's fourth race.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl took command of the race taking over from Fashion Faux Pas and Talk Veuve to Me. She had a 2 1/2-length score over the "muddy" track.  

“I felt very confident when she came off the turn in front,” Cox said. “It was a great race off the layoff. It was very positive seeing her be able to rate behind horses like that.”

Monomoy Girl had been sidelined since September after suffering a hamstring pull. She began training in February prepping for a 5-year-old-campaign.

“I was starting to doubt her return at that point,” Cox said. “I remember when it happened when she just wasn’t right after a work in September. I thought that was going to be the end of her career on the racetrack and she’d become a mom but these guys that own her are game and it’s good for the sport to see her return to the races.” 

Geroux rode Monomoy Girl as a 3-year-old and now as a 5-year-old and he says he can feel a major difference. had been aboard Monomoy Girl for her final three works leading into Saturday’s allowance race and felt a major difference from being aboard her when she was a 3-year-old. 

 “She was able to rate a lot easier today than when she was 3-years-old,” Geroux said. “She gave us all the signs in the morning that she was ready. I think it is on to bigger things.”

Going off as the 1-2 favorite, she returned $3, $3, and $2.20. Racing continues Sunday at Churchill Downs; the first post is at 1 p.m.