7/16 (DEL): Delaware H. (G2), Carpenter Jr. Mem. S., Sussex S.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I've already conceded she's more accomplished than Octave. Part of that, however, is both level of competition, and that she has raced as a 4yo, which I don't think Octave did (I could be wrong).

And yeah, I commend the connections for not being pussies with her!!

I'm even a fan of the filly! I did say when she was a two year old that she was the most likely winner of the Ky Oaks the following year.

Again, my whole point is that people have gotten carried away with how good she really is. My little quip about Octave was meant as a yardstick for comparisons. She is/was a lot closer in ability to Octave than she is/was to Rags to Riches, for instance.

At 2, Octave lost the Astoria to Desire to Excel. It took Desire to Excel until July of the following year to win another race, which ended up being her only other win in a brief career. She lost the Matron to a superstar named Meadow Breeze. Four weeks later Meadow Breeze was beaten over 40 lengths by Sutra in the Frizette. Octave finished 2nd in the BCJF to Dreaming of Anna, who was 0-2 the rest of her career on dirt and never won better than a G3 race on turf.

At 3, Octave lost her seasonal debut to Mistical Plan in the FG Oaks. Mistical Plan never won another race at 2 turns in her career. She lost the Ashland to Christmas Kid, who was 0-5 in the rest of her career with nothing better than a 3rd place finish at any point. She traded decisions with Lady Joanne in the summer then lost the Cotillion to Bear Now, who was 0-6 on dirt through the rest of her career. Octave's competition was largely terrible.

Horses like Rags to Riches and Candy Ride often have very lofty reputations on message boards. Both were terrific horses but are difficult for comparison's sake because the amount of time where they were at their best was so limited. Was the Rags to Riches from February through June of 2007 a great horse? No doubt about it. Did she have individual efforts that were better than anything a horse like Blind Luck has ever run? Yeah, the Belmont was one for the ages. However, what about the half crippled Rags to Riches that showed up in the Gazelle the same year? How about that Blind Luck has been able to now run at a top level for better than two years?

The ability to have a strong campaign year after year is so severely lacking in the modern game. Like I've said before, that's why Blind Luck gets high praise and she deserves every bit of it. Her talent and ability is MUCH closer to Rags to Riches than Octave.