There was nothing subtle about the instructions that trainer Kathleen O’Connell gave to jockey Cipriano Gil before he rode Gerrards Cross for the first time in Sunday’s $100,000 Monmouth County Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Go to the front and let her do what she does best.

Gil did exactly as told, cruising to a 2½-length victory aboard Gerrards Cross in the 5½-furlong grass feature for 3-year-old fillies.

“It was an awesome performance by her,” said O’Connell. “It was truly what I expected. She’s been training like a monster. Her last race she shipped and ran well (second, beaten a neck in the Stormy Blues Stakes at Laurel) and just got beat off a (five-month) layoff. Walking out of the stall I was a little nervous about the heat and humidity and the possibility of rain but she ran up to expectations.”

The winning time was 1:04.55.

For Gil, a native of Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, who has been riding in the United States since 2023, it marked his second career stakes win from more than 1,300 starts. He won the Showing Up Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 11, 2025 with Souper Forces.

“It was my first time riding her but I was very confident because Kathleen O’Connell told me she has been training great and she expected a big effort from her,” said Gil. “She’s a fast filly and she loves the turf at Monmouth. The plan was to go to the front. It’s easy there with not having to constantly push. She does it naturally. She was relaxed the whole way.”

A Florida-bred daughter of Midshipman, Gerrards Cross is now 3-for-6 lifetime. She won the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park last July in a nearly identical fashion.

Sent off at 2-1 in the reduced field of five, Gerrards Cross has won her only two career stakes races at Monmouth Park.

“Hopefully, Monmouth Park writes another race for her,” said O’Connell.

Owned and bred by James M. Chicklo, Gerrards Cross paid $6.40 to win. Spinelli, chasing the winner the whole race, was second. It was another half-length back to Tap Into Grace in third.

Gil, riding on a limited basis at Monmouth Park, is now 5-for-8 at the Jersey Shore track this summer.