DRF WKND (Hersch): Not Unusual for Filly Champs to Struggle

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Here is an interesting article in DRF. It talks about how it's not that surprising that Rachel Alexandra is not the same filly this year. The article talks about how many champion fillies were not the same the next year and in general how it's tough to get more than 2 good years out of horses, especially if you run them a lot.

http://drf.com/news/article/113789.html

A very good piece, putting RA (and others) in perspective.

This part,

Before the La Troienne, Jackson told the New York Times he had "no regrets" over Rachel Alexandra's 3-year-old campaign.

"I didn't overwork her," he said. "She was in peak condition and up to everything we threw her way, and she handled it beautifully."

made me wonder if Steve Asmussen would agree. The words of other trainers (McGaughey, Baffert, Lukas) on the subject, while certainly not a condemnation of RA's connections, are worthy of thoughtful consideration.

We all want to see greatness in thoroughbred racing. We hope to be a witness to a horse that has not just one great season, but several, a horse that we can speak of with reverent tones for many years to come. Will RA be one of those horses? I don't know . . .

but I sure hope so.