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

[Danzig]

i think the main issue at this point is they attempted to rush her back for the apple blossom. had they shown more patience in bringing her back to form, she may well not have these two losses on her resume.

[Indian Charlie]

How about just letting her run her race.

[RolloTomasi]

Could you imagine these geniuses if they owned Affirmed, when that colt lost the Grade 2 Malibu and San Fernando to start what was essentially his 4yo campaign?

Asmussen basically said there's nothing wrong with her. She hasn't been dominant as was expected to start the year, but that doesn't mean she is no longer competitive.

She has a long way to go before being lumped in the same as the 4yo versions of Winning Colors or Ajina or Proud Spell.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Could you imagine these geniuses if they owned Affirmed, when that colt lost the Grade 2 Malibu and San Fernando to start what was essentially his 4yo campaign?

Asmussen basically said there's nothing wrong with her. She hasn't been dominant as was expected to start the year, but that doesn't mean she is no longer competitive.

She has a long way to go before being lumped in the same as the 4yo versions of Winning Colors or Ajina or Proud Spell.

I agree, and also agree with Jack that it would be nice to let her run the way she runs best... free-wheeling. If you want to use performance figures as a gauge, looking at her sheet (Thoro-Graph) shows she's right in line with her efforts from last year with only the Oaks (-4.5) and Haskell (-4.0) earning bigger figs than what she's run this year (-1.0 first back & -1.5 last). What she hasn't done is show 'typical' forward progress as a 4yo, but she was abnormally fast for a 3yo filly to start with... (as fast as any in the game's modern history in fact). But notably, her 2 efforts this year are 'faster' on Thoro-Graph than her Woodward, Preakness and Fantasy and on a par with her Mother Goose.

[knickslions2]

Originally Posted by Kasept

I agree, and also agree with Jack that it would be nice to let her run the way she runs best... free-wheeling. If you want to use performance figures as a gauge, looking at her sheet (Thoro-Graph) shows she's right in line with her efforts from last year with only the Oaks (-4.5) and Haskell (-4.0) earning bigger figs than what she's run this year (-1.0 first back & -1.5 last). What she hasn't done is show 'typical' forward progress as a 4yo, but she was abnormally fast for a 3yo filly to start with... (as fast as any in the game's modern history in fact). But notably, her 2 efforts this year are 'faster' on Thoro-Graph than her Woodward, Preakness and Fantasy and on a par with her Mother Goose.

I still think that last race against the boys last year took a ton out of her engine. She pushed so hard to win that race and looked it at the end. It's just talking time to refuel her engine and desire.

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by knickslions2

I still think that last race against the boys last year took a ton out of her engine. She pushed so hard to win that race and looked it at the end.

That's what Shug McGaughey said, too. "... it's hard to say if she's going to come back. In the Woodward, she laid it on the ground that day as hard as a horse can."

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by OldDog

That's what Shug McGaughey said, too. "... it's hard to say if she's going to come back. In the Woodward, she laid it on the ground that day as hard as a horse can."

This may indeed be the case, and we will know a little more tomorrow. But as a fan of the game, I prefer to watch the risks inherent with a truly remarkable season that featured race after race of historic significance than one great day. When Rachel ran vs the fillies, she won by margins never before seen in the history of great races like the KY Oaks. When she ran against the boys, she was even better becoming the first 3yo filly to dare what she did and succeeded doing. I honestly don't think anyone will try it again in my lifetime, much less pull it off.