Moonlit Garden canters home in Iowa Distaff
July 7, 2019
Moonlit Garden cruised to an 8 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Iowa Distaff at Prairie Meadows, the second stakes win for the daughter of Malibu Moon.
Making her first start for new connections of owner Tracy Marks and trainer Brad Cox, the 5-year-old was in hand behind horse for the first six furlongs before jockey Florent Geroux guided her off the fence. Coming between horses at the top of the stretch, she easily assumed command and was all alone the rest of the way, gearing down late to get the 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.62 (VIDEO).
Winner of the Summer Colony S. last year at Saratoga, Moonlit Garden placed in both the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and Bayakoa S. (G3) this year. Her overall record now stands at 4-5-6 in 22 outings, with earnings of $361,073.
Moonlit Garden’s dam Winter Garden has is the dam of six winners, including multiple graded stakes winner Title Contender and graded stakes-placed colt Matterhorn.