Ria Antonia

[Calzone Lord]

Call me cynical ... but I happen to think this is just gamesmanship and a cry for attention.

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner has captured the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-year-old filly on 25 of the last 27 occasions.

I think the connections of Ria Antonia are possibly saying something like that in December to help sell her to the writers for year end honors.

This filly was no better than 4th in her first three stakes attempts, and she was put up in the Juvenile Fillies over a very slight bump that happened in the final 40 yards of the race. She's A Tiger should win the Eclipse award. She's had a much better 2yo season in totality than Ria Antonia did.

If I were Ria Antonia's connections, I'd sure want that championship. It's a vote they might get anyway, but making a statement that they're pointing to the Kentucky Derby is going to get her name in the Headlines. Perhaps this really is "a bizarre overestimation of her ability" like Cannon Shell says ... but I think it's possible that they can taste that championship, and they're doing what they have to do to help their filly out in what could ultimately be a very close vote.