It's starting to look alot like Europe

Patuxet · Postby **Patuxet** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:56 pm

where at the highest reaches of racing like the Arc it's not all that unusual for a really good filly or mare to take on her male counterparts at 12 furlongs.

I look for Rags to Riches to win an honestly contested Belmont and position herself to be named 3YO Champion. With that she'd certainly help the cause of racing more than the likes of a Street Sense by reminding one and all that there's still more to our sport than the big bucks single-mindly obscene objective of "making a stallion".

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:48 pm

we have some very ignorant people over in the US

i was watching the thing on TVG tonight and all said how girls aren't supposed to run against the boys and how it takes too much out of them... sexist bastards

just forget Ouija Board BEAT boys in one of the most important races in Europe, and faced them on a number of occussions and MORE than held her own, never embarrassing herself, always in the meat of the race. Bad jockey ride cost her one race.

I saw an Allowance OC about 2 months ago where Historical Lady took the boys behind the woodshed... about 10 lengths. not the same thing I know but still.

Not every filly is good enough.. but some are... hell she has better speed figures than all but really 1 horse in the race... and they are stretching out to a distance she should love.

I still think Curlin wins it.. but I wouldn't be in awe if R2R pulled it off. I think she is going to be the 2nd best horse in the race.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:52 pm

If there is one thing I learned about horse racing, espicaly when handicapping, it's LISTEN TO NO ONE.. EPICALLY IF THEY ARE ON TV.

Being, if you like R2R.. bet her. don't let other people sway your decision. My eyes are the best handicapping tool I have, and I trust them more than I trust some idiot with a mic and a camera in front of him.

HR LLC · Postby **HR LLC** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:40 am

bdw0617,

Are you comparing Ouija Board to R2R? Ouija Board is one of the best horses to ever race...ever.

Let's hold off on comparing Lebron to Jordan until R2R does something more. She is clearly the best 3YO filly in the US.

louis finochio · Postby **louis finochio** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:11 am

If you have a bionic filly its time to let her run against the males and see if she is the many are called but few are chosen. The Tb do the talking on race day, as its them who put on the show.

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:06 am

HR LLC wrote:bdw0617,

Are you comparing Ouija Board to R2R? Ouija Board is one of the best horses to ever race...ever.

Let's hold off on comparing Lebron to Jordan until R2R does something more. She is clearly the best 3YO filly in the US.

god no. Heavens no.

BUT

I'm not comparing Curlin and hard spun to Affirmed and Alydar either

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:07 am

HR LLC wrote:bdw0617,

Are you comparing Ouija Board to R2R? Ouija Board is one of the best horses to ever race...ever.

Let's hold off on comparing Lebron to Jordan until R2R does something more. She is clearly the best 3YO filly in the US.

I just find it funny how people use speed figures to justify damn near everything that is racing, but when they look at her and see that F instead of a C (or a G in some instances) they just throw her out.. mind you she has the 2nd highest beyer in the race

Patuxet · Postby **Patuxet** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:07 pm

How some other fillies fared in the Belmont:

'99 Silverbulletday 7th
'96 My Flag 3rd
'88 Winning Colors 6th
'80 Genuine Risk 2nd

As for other females racing against males I remember how Pebbles made an electifying move to best males in the '85 BC Turf, a feat Miss Alleged pulled off in '91.

My personal all-time favorite female to defeat males was Shuvee which pulled off consecutive wins in the 2-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup in '70 and '71.

Rokeby Forever · Postby **Rokeby Forever** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:27 pm

Miesque was no slouch either, Patuxet.

Although she never faced the boys, Go For Wand was a GREAT filly, maybe the best since Ruffian. She would have beaten Rags To Riches with both legs tied behind her.

I wish people wouldn't forget her Beldame Stakes victory - 1 1/8th mile in 1:45 4/5...what three year old filly (or any horse) runs that fast? She would have beaten any horse on the planet that day.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:29 pm

Well I was chatting with a pal, and happened to look up the Belmont & its fillies.. it has been won twice by fillies. The inaugural in 1867, and then once again in 1905. The Preakness was last won by a filly in 1929. 20 fillies have tried the Belmont.

I like Rags to Riches very much, but not against this bunch of colts. She might be good for 2nd or 3rd though...

Sam · Postby **Sam** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 4:14 pm

madelyn wrote:I like Rags to Riches very much, but not against this bunch of colts. She might be good for 2nd or 3rd though...

This move just doesn't make any damn sense to me. I could see her trying the boys later in the year in the Haskell or Travers and have a really good chance to win, but not this race.

BTW, Madelyn, did that Lac Ouimet mare of yours foal out and what did ya name it

Mac · Postby **Mac** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:58 pm

Speaking of great fillies, I really enjoyed following Makybe Diva's career (Australia). Completely mind-boggling...she decimated the best colts in the top races year after year...I think in fact she was ranked VERY high among the top horses in the world in 04 or 05? ....

Because our press didn't really follow her, I guess most average racing fans never heard of Makybe Diva, but she was shattering track records and besting everyone Down Under for quite some time. I think she is now considered on equal footing, if not perhaps even more eminent, than Phar Lap.

We all agree that fillies can't compete against the males routinely, but the great ones are a thrill to watch. If a filly in North America rises to such heights again, I for one will buy a plane ticket and go see her. As for R2R, I am pulling for her big-time, and she has made the Belmont SO much more exciting...

wallinga · Postby **wallinga** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 10:38 pm

the Diva was pretty good, but our WFA system does mares a lot of favours, a few years before the Diva there was Sunline, who would have handed Makybe her horseshoes. She was certainly a handy stayer though. Who were the last 1/2 relations to win the Belmont in consecutive years?

Foggytrip · Postby **Foggytrip** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:24 am

Its a lot easier for a filly to compete on the grass with boys than on the dirt. Thats probably why you see it a lot more in europe

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:33 am

Sam wrote:.....BTW, Madelyn, did that Lac Ouimet mare of yours foal out and what did ya name it

I had two Lac Ouimet mares, and sold both of them. Neither has reported in with a live foal. One resorbed. Such is the luck of the game.

Ground Queen threw another outstanding whopper filly, though.. perhaps one of the most intriguing pedigrees in my broodmare herd.