Vale Dori

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by freddymo

She ran well, her fig was about what the other G1's fillies and mares had been running. My point is given dynamics she is suppose to win that race comfortably. Beholder ran a much better race and while Beholder is lauded as one of the greatest EVAH I don't hold her in that regard a worthy Champion of course but she isnt on my Mt Rushmore. Songbird got as soft a set up as anyone could have foreseen and Stellar Wind laying an egg changed the whole race. She is really good but in my mind her not drawing off and winning that race by 1/2 to length pretty much proved she was exactly what I thought she was. Mind you if Stellar wind had run her nice seriously doubt Songbird would have been better then 3rd

Well, that was clearly the toughest field Songbird had ever faced and had she wilted down the stretch after the comfortable pace setup, sure you could say she was exposed. But visually, she clearly responded when challenged by a much more experienced and battle-tested mare in Beholder. I think she validated the "hype" and it will be interesting to see what she does at 4. As you know, many a top class 3yo filly have faltered the next year (My Flag, Silverbulletday, Winning Colors, etc.) but hopefully we see her progress.

As for Stellar Wind, I'm surprised that she gets a pass and avoids the "overhyped" branding. She has never delivered when it counted most.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Well, that was clearly the toughest field Songbird had ever faced and had she wilted down the stretch after the comfortable pace setup, sure you could say she was exposed. But visually, she clearly responded when challenged by a much more experienced and battle-tested mare in Beholder. I think she validated the "hype" and it will be interesting to see what she does at 4. As you know, many a top class 3yo filly have faltered the next year (My Flag, Silverbulletday, Winning Colors, etc.) but hopefully we see her progress.

As for Stellar Wind, I'm surprised that she gets a pass and avoids the "overhyped" branding. She has never delivered when it counted most.

While she did not have the talent that Songbird does, Blind Luck did not go on the same way as a 4YO for the same trainer. Should be interesting to see.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

While she did not have the talent that Songbird does, Blind Luck did not go on the same way as a 4YO for the same trainer. Should be interesting to see.

Blind Luck was a bit of an inbetweener, in the sense she had several high profile losses, yet still won some important races (Vanity, La Troienne, Delaware 'Cap). Kind of like Real Quiet or dare I say Affirmed (he lost several races at Santa Anita, too, early in his 4yo year).

Of course, her last race was a complete disaster.

Songbird did not make hard work of it this year aside from the Distaff, while Blind Luck got into some tough spots, particularly with Harve de Grace, as a 3yo. Nevertheless, I have the same reservation as you. Hopefully she shows up because the trainer is very sporting (i.e., he ships around) when he has a horse on fire.

[Alabama Stakes]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

While she did not have the talent that Songbird does, Blind Luck did not go on the same way as a 4YO for the same trainer. Should be interesting to see.

Blind Luck did not drub anything in her way all year, including the Alabama. What a terrible analogy. Certainly never faced a field even close to the Distaff either

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

Blind Luck did not drub anything in her way all year, including the Alabama. What a terrible analogy. Certainly never faced a field even close to the Distaff either

Kinda tough to drub a horse of Havre de Grace's caliber. The best 3yos Songbird faced were distance challenged sorts (Carina Mia, Cathryn Sophia). The main point was that a lot of top 3yo fillies over the years have bottomed out as 4yos and the trainer of Songbird is fairly aggressive with his stock, which is not conducive to longevity in general.

[Alabama Stakes]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Kinda tough to drub a horse of Havre de Grace's caliber. The best 3yos Songbird faced were distance challenged sorts (Carina Mia, Cathryn Sophia). The main point was that a lot of top 3yo fillies over the years have bottomed out as 4yos and the trainer of Songbird is fairly aggressive with his stock, which is not conducive to longevity in general.

She broke their spirit much like A 19 for 20 mare did to her competition. She looks the part and runs to her looks

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Well, that was clearly the toughest field Songbird had ever faced and had she wilted down the stretch after the comfortable pace setup, sure you could say she was exposed. But visually, she clearly responded when challenged by a much more experienced and battle-tested mare in Beholder. I think she validated the "hype" and it will be interesting to see what she does at 4. As you know, many a top class 3yo filly have faltered the next year (My Flag, Silverbulletday, Winning Colors, etc.) but hopefully we see her progress.

As for Stellar Wind, I'm surprised that she gets a pass and avoids the "overhyped" branding. She has never delivered when it counted most.

I am a Songbird fan and connections are as sporting as any. Rachel was a shell us herself, I wonder if Rachel's connects had more to do with it then her, or maybe it was Woodward? Untappable fits this profile as well. Stellar Wind is a puzzle 3 grade 1's and when she fires she is terrific, I cant figure her out, the 16 Distaff was different then the Oaks and 15 Distaff(much softer competition) in both of those races she ran very well.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Stellar Wind is a puzzle 3 grade 1's and when she fires she is terrific, I cant figure her out, the 16 Distaff was different then the Oaks and 15 Distaff(much softer competition) in both of those races she ran very well.

As I mentioned prior to the BC, Stellar Wind has never done well when racing with less than 6-8 weeks off in between. If you watch the paddock or post parade you'll see that quite often these Curlin fillies are little runty types (Curalina is, too). Maybe they can't take much racing and training.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

As I mentioned prior to the BC, Stellar Wind has never done well when racing with less than 6-8 weeks off in between. If you watch the paddock or post parade you'll see that quite often these Curlin fillies are little runty types (Curalina is, too). Maybe they can't take much racing and training.

You would know way more about that stuff. TAP would prefer to run 5 times a year and I really don't follow Sadler enough save his obvious horses. Curlin was a fairly big horse he must have been 16+ no clue about if his fillies are mostly runts, they are fast

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

If you watch the paddock or post parade you'll see that quite often these Curlin fillies are little runty types (Curalina is, too). Maybe they can't take much racing and training.

Which is so funny because I was in the paddock for his derby and when he walked by I said "look at that f#$% monster of a horse". Maybe because he was pure chestnut and they often look a tad bigger but I was pretty impressed with a horse who had run like 3 times.