You call it: RA VS other great 3yo fillies

[The Indomitable DrugS]

When the year is over - how will RA's 3yo season stack up with the following greats?

We are not counting 2-year-old form ... which takes horses like Silverbulletday and Serena's Song out of consideration .. and weakens the case of horses like Ruffian and Go For Wand.

#1: Rachel Alexandra VS Dance Smartly ('91):

DS swept the Candian Triple Crown with ease. Beat open males in the Molson Million - a field that including Fly So Free. Capped it off by winning the BC Distaff.

Was 8-for-8 with all wins coming by 1.5 lengths or more. Wins that season ranging from 6 furlongs on dirt to 12 furlongs on yielding turf. Not an all-time strong type figure horse.


#2: RA VS Go For Wand ('90):

Go For Wand won 7 of 9 including 6 Grade 1's. One defeat an embarassing loss in the Kentucky Oaks and the other a heroic performance while holding on to a very narrow lead in the Distaff.

Ran monster figure in the Beldame that helped make her 3/5 favorite over Bayakoa. Though 2nd place finisher beaten less than 5 lengths that day - Colonial Waters - was just 1 for 7 that year and 0-for-8 the following year.

#3: RA VS Melair ('86):

The California Ruffian, Melair had the greatest 10 week season of all-time.

She broke her maiden on debut at Hollywood Park on April 25th. Won an allowance race by 9 lengths three weeks later with future Grade 1 winner Flying Julia finishing 2nd.

Made her Graded Stakes debut 2 weeks later and won the Railbird by 7.5 lengths. Two weeks after that she dominated Hidden Light - a multiple Grade 1 winner who swept that years Santa Anita Oaks, Hollywood Oaks, and Del Mar Oaks .. and is also the dam of Artie Schiller.

And two weeks after that - she took on males and oblitered them. Running fractions of 22 1/5, :44 3/5, 1:08 and 1:19 4/5 .. she stopped the clock in 1:32 4/5 and was just 3/5ths off of Dr. Fager's world record. She won by 6.5 lengths. The Lukas trained Southern Halo (sire of More Than Ready) was 2nd. That years champion 3yo male Snow Chief was 3rd beaten 11 lengths in the 12 horse field.

She never raced again in her life.

#4: RA VS Ruffian ('75):

Ruffian was 5-for-6 with 3 Grade 1 wins. Brilliant performances ranging from 6 furlongs to 12 furlongs.

Only knocks are that she was never challenged on the lead - and her early fractions don't appear to be extremely fast. Also - like Melair - she was regional. Four of the five wins coming at AQU and the other at Belmont.

[King Glorious]

I think Winning Colors needs to be in the discussion also. She had a really good season. She won the SA Derby and the Kentucky Derby and was probably even better when third in the Preakness. In the Derby, she beat Risen Star (champion 3yo) as well as horses that went on to win and place in many other grade one races. Forty Niner tried to go with her in the Preakness and was destroyed. Seeking the Gold couldn't run with her n the Derby but later was beaten only 1/2 length in the BC Classic by Alysheba. Her Belmont loss was really bad but that wasn't even her fault. She had no business being in that race. She beat Goodbye Halo (Demoiselle, Starlet, Ky Oaks, CCA Oaks, Mother Goose) and Jeanne Jones (Fantasy, 2nd BC JF and Ky Oaks) early in the year and then after people wrote her off after the Belmont, she came back to give Personal Ensign the toughest races of her career. She finished ahead of Sham Say in the Maskette, who came back to win the Ruffian next out and then was only a nose beaten by PE in the Distaff. Because of the way she ended her career, Winning Colors is often overlooked when these discussions come along but she's have run 98% of the 3yo fillies we've seen into the ground. The list of horses that she beat that year would make the list that any of these others you named pale by comparison. And that doesn't even include Personal Ensign.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

She was 4 for 10 as a 3yo... it's a case where record hurts her. She totally fell apart after the Preakness.

I think RA will have the best looking 3yo season after all is said and done.

The problem is - she has yet to face easily the 2nd best 3yo filly (Careless Jewel) ... she hasn't faced either QR or IWR .. and they are the only 3yo males this year who aren't goats. The older males suck .. and the Zenyatta match up might not ever happen.

It's all through no fault of her own .. but it's pretty remarkable that a filly like Melair .. who's career lasted all of 10 weeks .. probably saw both better female and male competition than RA ever has.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

She was 4 for 10 as a 3yo... it's a case where record hurts her. She totally fell apart after the Preakness.

I think RA will have the best looking 3yo season after all is said and done.

The problem is - she has yet to face easily the 2nd best 3yo filly (Careless Jewel) ... she hasn't faced either QR or IWR .. and they are the only 3yo males this year who aren't goats. The older males suck .. and the Zenyatta match up might not ever happen.

It's all through no fault of her own .. but it's pretty remarkable that a filly like Melair .. who's career lasted all of 10 weeks .. probably saw both better female and male competition than RA ever has.

That's ridiculous to use her record and say she totally fell apart after the Preakness. She lost by 1/2 length and a nose to Personal Ensign in the fall. That's your idea of falling apart?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

She was also beaten 42 lengths in the Belmont and 15 lengths in the Spinster.

She was defeated in 8 straight stakes races after the Derby.

I agree Lukas had her good in her two meetings against PE .. but she fell apart in a lot of races.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

She was also beaten 42 lengths in the Belmont and 15 lengths in the Spinster.

She was defeated in 8 straight stakes races after the Derby.

I agree Lukas had her good in her two meetings against PE .. but she fell apart in a lot of races.

Those two races were the only major blemishes on her 3yo record. Wins in the Derby, Santa Anita Derby (over Big Cap winner Ruhlman, the useful millionaire Lively One who won the Swaps and Goodwood, and Tejano), and Santa Anita Oaks. The other losses were by a neck to Goodbye Halo in the Las Virgenes, by 2.5 lengths to Risen Star in the Preakness, and the two losses to Personal Ensign. Winning Colors probably ran the best race of any horse in that Preakness; look where Forty Niner finished after racing her into defeat. To put the two losses to PE in perspective: she finished within a length of PE in their only two meetings; the only other horse to come within a length of PE was Collins in the Frizette.

[Indian Charlie]

I'm glad you finally have an appreciation for Melair. Awesome awesome filly.

However, she wasn't even the 3yo filly champ from her year. While nowhere near as good as Melair, that years champion filly, Tiffany Lass, also had a pretty nice sixteen week run.

After breaking her maiden in her debut during the last week or so of her two year old year, she shipped from HP to the FG and won a low level allowance by five. Shortly after that, a nine length win in a cheap stakes.

Two or three weeks later, another three length win in a small stakes, still at the FG. Another three weeks later at the FG, another win, though only by 3/4's of length in the FG Oaks, over the pretty nice Patricia J. K., dam of future millionaire Helmsman.

Her next start was in the G1 Fantasy at Oaklawn. This saw her winning pretty easily by 2.5 over Lotka, the winner of the G1 Acorn later that year and a winner of 10 out of 20 starts and over 700k.

In her last start of this sixteen week period, and her final start of the year, she won the Kentucky Oaks over Life at the Top and Family Style. Life at the Top was a two time grade 1 winner with multiple g1 placings. Family Style was a four time grade 1 winner and the champion two year old filly the year before, having won the BC for Lukas.

For those interested, she came back at four to run three more times before retiring. She won her 4yo debut, running her record to 8 for 8, defeating useful fillies Luisant and Seldom Seen Sue. In her final two starts, she ran 2nd and third, both times to Seldom Seen Sue.

Not a bad 3yo filly by any means. She had a really solid year, though as I said, she wasn't in the same league as Melair.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

She was 4 for 10 as a 3yo... it's a case where record hurts her. She totally fell apart after the Preakness.

I think RA will have the best looking 3yo season after all is said and done.

The problem is - she has yet to face easily the 2nd best 3yo filly (Careless Jewel) ... she hasn't faced either QR or IWR .. and they are the only 3yo males this year who aren't goats. The older males suck .. and the Zenyatta match up might not ever happen.

It's all through no fault of her own .. but it's pretty remarkable that a filly like Melair .. who's career lasted all of 10 weeks .. probably saw both better female and male competition than RA ever has.

I think they needed to go Travers, I am not doubting her she is def. great, but I beleive QR is as good if not better.

[Linny]

How about Bold n' Determined? She won a listed stake called the Pasadena then ran 4th in the Santa Ynez. After that she won the G1 Santa Susana (now the SA Oaks) the G1 Fantasy, the G1 KY Oaks, the G1 Acorn and then lost the Mother Goose by a head. She followed it all up with wins in the CCAO, the Maskette, a KEE allowance (can you imagine the conditions?!!) and the G1 Spinster over her elders. She ended the year running 4th in the G1 Yellow Ribbon on grass with older f/m. She won 7 G1's at 5 different tracks. Oh, yeah, did I mention that she didn't win Champion 3yo filly? She met the champ once and beat her. The champ was Genuine Risk, but Bold N' Determined may have been a better filly.
B'N'D never took on colts but she did beat the filly that beat the boys in the biggest stage. I'm not sure how she stacks up to RA (or RA to her) but she had a year that deserves mention when talking about 3yo filly campaigns.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I'm glad you finally have an appreciation for Melair. Awesome awesome filly.

However, she wasn't even the 3yo filly champ from her year. While nowhere near as good as Melair, that years champion filly, Tiffany Lass, also had a pretty nice sixteen week run.

After breaking her maiden in her debut during the last week or so of her two year old year, she shipped from HP to the FG and won a low level allowance by five. Shortly after that, a nine length win in a cheap stakes.

Two or three weeks later, another three length win in a small stakes, still at the FG. Another three weeks later at the FG, another win, though only by 3/4's of length in the FG Oaks, over the pretty nice Patricia J. K., dam of future millionaire Helmsman.

Her next start was in the G1 Fantasy at Oaklawn. This saw her winning pretty easily by 2.5 over Lotka, the winner of the G1 Acorn later that year and a winner of 10 out of 20 starts and over 700k.

In her last start of this sixteen week period, and her final start of the year, she won the Kentucky Oaks over Life at the Top and Family Style. Life at the Top was a two time grade 1 winner with multiple g1 placings. Family Style was a four time grade 1 winner and the champion two year old filly the year before, having won the BC for Lukas.

For those interested, she came back at four to run three more times before retiring. She won her 4yo debut, running her record to 8 for 8, defeating useful fillies Luisant and Seldom Seen Sue. In her final two starts, she ran 2nd and third, both times to Seldom Seen Sue.

Not a bad 3yo filly by any means. She had a really solid year, though as I said, she wasn't in the same league as Melair.

Great recap of Tiffany Lass's 3yo season. I'd like to add that Life At The Top finished unplaced behind her in the FG Oaks. That was a huge race. Life At the Top had just beaten Twilight Ridge in the Las Virgenes and Patricia JK had just beaten Family Style in the Bonnie Miss. Tiffany Lass and Patricia JK moved past Life At the Top at the top of the stretch and ran together down the lane. Tiffany Lass, along the rail with Ricky Frazier aboard, finally outgamed the other filly (I think Mig was riding her) for the win.

It was unbelievable watching Tiffany Lass develop at FG that year. Laz Barrera was very high on his filly, and he sent her to his brother Angel in New Orleans to get her ready for the KY Oaks.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

Great recap of Tiffany Lass's 3yo season. I'd like to add that Life At The Top finished unplaced behind her in the FG Oaks. That was a huge race. Life At the Top had just beaten Twilight Ridge in the Las Virgenes and Patricia JK had just beaten Family Style in the Bonnie Miss. Tiffany Lass and Patricia JK moved past Life At the Top at the top of the stretch and ran together down the lane. Tiffany Lass, along the rail with Ricky Frazier aboard, finally outgamed the other filly (I think Mig was riding her) for the win.

It was unbelievable watching Tiffany Lass develop at FG that year. Laz Barrera was very high on his filly, and he sent her to his brother Angel in New Orleans to get her ready for the KY Oaks.

Yeah, that was a perplexing move by Barrera. I thought she was a pretty nice filly when she broke her maiden, and I remember wondering why she was running at the FG. I thought maybe he was ducking someone in Socal, but couldn't figure out who.

Maybe he heard about that monster 3yo filly that had been working out down in Tijuana.

Come to think of it, I think both Snow Chief and Melair were being prepped initially down in Tijuana!

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Yeah, that was a perplexing move by Barrera. I thought she was a pretty nice filly when she broke her maiden, and I remember wondering why she was running at the FG. I thought maybe he was ducking someone in Socal, but couldn't figure out who.

Maybe he heard about that monster 3yo filly that had been working out down in Tijuana.

Come to think of it, I think both Snow Chief and Melair were being prepped initially down in Tijuana!

Melair was something else. She smoked them in the Silver Screen.

The official line was that Laz wanted TL training over a deeper surface than what was out in California. FG wasn't nearly as fast back then as it is now. But I can see the Melair angle. Sort of like when Smile chased Spend A Buck from Florida.

[chucklestheclown]

I guess Eight Belles hasn't been gone long enough.

[Round Pen]

IMO Ruffian was the greatest filly to Ever Life, In think this Quote sums it up Quite Nicely. In 1975 Lucien Laurin (Secretariets Trainer) said to the Press "As God as my Witness she may be better than Secretariet."

[CSC]

I like the inclusion here of Dance Smartly, being that she raced mostly in Canada probably hurt her exposure in the U.S somewhat. She won on dirt, turf, faced males from 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 and really never was tested that entire year.

I think Pat Day who would know how good she was, when interviewed after the BC Distaff was asked where he ranked Dance Smartly with all the great fillies he has rode, he answered matter of factly 'right beside Lady's Secret' indicated her true ability.

Of note her stablemate Wilderness Song did go on to win The Gr. 1 Spinster at Keeneland that same year, which is another good barmometer of how good DS was, due to the fact she could never get within a shouting distance of Dance Smartly on the track.

[smuthg]

DrugS, what about Genuine Risk? I don't have a clue what she did before or after the triple crown series, but I think a Derby win, and two seconds stacks up pretty nicely with just about anyone...

[slotdirt]

I'm sorry, but I have to mention that despite her untimely demise, Eight Belles really doesn't warrant discussion in this conversation.

[citycat]

While she is probably best know for her four year old season, Personal Ensign was still perfect in four races in her 3yr old year winning the G1 Beldame. While maybe not as impressive as RA I believe she is worth mentioning

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

She was 4 for 10 as a 3yo... it's a case where record hurts her. She totally fell apart after the Preakness.

I think RA will have the best looking 3yo season after all is said and done.

The problem is - she has yet to face easily the 2nd best 3yo filly (Careless Jewel) ... she hasn't faced either QR or IWR .. and they are the only 3yo males this year who aren't goats. The older males suck .. and the Zenyatta match up might not ever happen.

It's all through no fault of her own .. but it's pretty remarkable that a filly like Melair .. who's career lasted all of 10 weeks .. probably saw both better female and male competition than RA ever has.

To this point, what race would you say is Rachel's "best"?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

To this point, what race would you say is Rachel's "best"?

The Haskell was powerfull.