i agree, and have no idea what rags to riches has to do with eight belles. also she doesn't need the lead, as she showed in her last. i'd like to see her, and felt til just after the fantasy that she might show up. but jones and porter seemed hesitant because her last race was so close. but i guess a few days of thinking about it has changed their minds.

Shug and Jerkens to name a few. Usually have top class 3yo fillies, rarely worry about the Oaks.

Shug?

How bout Dispute, Yell, My Flag, Glitter Woman?

He isn't one to skip the Oaks if he has the right horse. Nearly ran Boca Grande last year, in fact.

If Eight Belles goes Saturday instead of Friday, it is Rick Porter and NO ONE ELSE making the decision. Even the consideration of her in the Derby has Porter's ham-handed fingerprints all over it. If Jones were making the call and was forced to run one of the 2 in the Derby, it would be Proud Spell, who is far better suited for the task.

It isn't a big issue, but I've always thought fillys should have to have graded earnings against males to have them count.

CJ,

That's a great point... I've never heard or seen that brought up.

Thanks...just seems they get a free pass by racing in "restricted" races.

it's true they get a free pass. but we would be deprived the opportunity to see something special if they didn't let this happen. as long as it's only 1 or 2 that get to try it, i don't think it's a big deal either.

I was thinking the same thing. It's not like the colts even have a chance at those earnings.

I agree. If a Jones trainee should be heading to the Derby, it's that one.

Eight Belles would not be facing Street Sense, Hard Spun, Curlin, or Any Given Saturday... that's what the connections for R2R was looking at last year. Not quite the same competition in 2008 as it was in '07... IMO.

interesting point. but they also use two year old earnings, which are restricted races. i don't see a change in the near future.

I am no fan of the connections of EB, but after watching all the preps since the beginning of the year, I think they may be sitting on the best 3 year old in the country. Now I'm a little hesitant in saying for 2 reasons, the first is the fact that she doesn't get out of the gate well. That's a disaster waiting to happen in the Derby. Race could be over two jumps in. The second is I didn't like the last two rides she had with Dominguez. The Honeybee, I just thought he wrapped up on her way too early (I know, nice problem to have) and in the Fantasy, he basically did the same thing and Alina had something left and he had to get after her and then for whatever reason she lugged in real bad at the finish. Steve I think your assessment of RP is right on and he is the one making the call, just as he made the call about Dominguez and not Thompson. I think if Jones had is way,Thompson would still be on this mount. But after all that is said, she is the best 3 year old I've seen this year. (taking Big Brown out of the mix now because of the 3 races)

Yes, but all the horses eligible for the Derby could run in those 2yo races. They all can't run in filly races.

The percentage of fillys that ever get to the level to even be considered for the Derby is so low that I don't think there needs to be a amount won against the males to have be eligible. I think it takes a very special filly to beat the boys in any race let alone the Kentucky Derby. Too bad RTR was'nt running this year, we could of had our first possible Triple crown winning filly.

This year's three year old filly crop is just as good as the boys.....with that said; please run her in the Oaks! She's better suited and most of all, possibly better financially for me.

I found this interesting...

"Bob Holthus, who's preparing Pure Clan for the Kentucky Oaks, said that, of the 3-year-olds in training, the sheets gave Big Brown the best number (-1) for his Florida Derby victory, and Eight Belles the second best number (+3) for her Fantasy victory."

I don't see how anyone could think they are better than the colts. It isn't like any of the fillies are lighting the world on fire either.

Initially I agreed with you, but I've reconsidered my stance. Eight Belles has every right to take a shot, based on the boys' results. While Proud Spell might be a 'more likely' winner based on the likely race shape, Eight Belles might actually be the better of the two fillies.

If they both go in the Oaks, I may just use only those two in every multirace wager. Jones has an absolutely STACKED hand...