Rags!!!!!!!!!!!!

[miraja2]

What she did today was quite impressive, and she deserves to be praised for it. It was an exciting race and she performed very well.
Although I doubted this filly a bit before the Oaks, I have liked her ever sense her performance that day so I am BEGGING people on here to avoid saying things like "she beat a freak in Curlin" and that she is better than any filly other than Kincsem and Ruffian. Don't make me start rooting against this filly because of the nonsensical over-hype (see Bernardini last year).
She is a very good filly, and MAYBE someday she will rank among the all-time greats. But if Curlin is a freak, our definition of a "freak" has changed dramatically. And how in the world could she rank higher than someone like (to name just one example) Personal Ensign? Personal Ensign was 13 for 13 lifetime, including 8 G1s over three years, AND beat the boys in the Whitney.
Any ranking of all-time great fillies that had Rags over Personal Ensign right now would be.....well.....just plain wrong.

Originally Posted by miraja2

What she did today was quite impressive, and she deserves to be praised for it. It was an exciting race and she performed very well.
Although I doubted this filly a bit before the Oaks, I have liked her ever sense her performance that day so I am BEGGING people on here to avoid saying things like "she beat a freak in Curlin" and that she is better than any filly other than Kincsem and Ruffian. Don't make me start rooting against this filly because of the nonsensical over-hype (see Bernardini last year).
She is a very good filly, and MAYBE someday she will rank among the all-time greats. But if Curlin is a freak, our definition of a "freak" has changed dramatically. And how in the world could she rank higher than someone like (to name just one example) Personal Ensign? Personal Ensign was 13 for 13 lifetime, including 8 G1s over three years, AND beat the boys in the Whitney.
Any ranking of all-time great fillies that had Rags over Personal Ensign right now would be.....well.....just plain wrong.

Post race excitement and the fact a filly won the Belmont. When people see they walked the first half of the race, it will die down. But it was a hell of a competitive race. The 3 TC races this year were a joy to watch. This was a good year. And it was a great race even if it was not a race to put any sane person in physical awe of these horses. The stamina was nice to see though. In fact, I think they may have run Jazil fractions. I leave that for somebody to determine.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by miraja2

What she did today was quite impressive, and she deserves to be praised for it. It was an exciting race and she performed very well.
Although I doubted this filly a bit before the Oaks, I have liked her ever sense her performance that day so I am BEGGING people on here to avoid saying things like "she beat a freak in Curlin" and that she is better than any filly other than Kincsem and Ruffian. Don't make me start rooting against this filly because of the nonsensical over-hype (see Bernardini last year).
She is a very good filly, and MAYBE someday she will rank among the all-time greats. But if Curlin is a freak, our definition of a "freak" has changed dramatically. And how in the world could she rank higher than someone like (to name just one example) Personal Ensign? Personal Ensign was 13 for 13 lifetime, including 8 G1s over three years, AND beat the boys in the Whitney.
Any ranking of all-time great fillies that had Rags over Personal Ensign right now would be.....well.....just plain wrong.

I agree totally...all I've said is that right now she seems to have unlimited potential...how that plays out only time will tell. Personal Ensign's BCD was one of the great efforts of all time, I love that horse!

[Merlinsky]

What would she have to achieve to warrant Classic vs. Distaff then? A mile and a quarter in a field that includes Curlin at the shorter distance, Street Sense, Invasor and others is a different animal. Do we need her to hit up the Travers for example? I assume a shorter race against males would be in order...any way they'd even think of doing the CCA Oaks and Alabama and still the Classic? I'm torn, those are pretty big races and I'd hate for her to miss them...what's her dream schedule in your eyes?

[chupster2]

Errrr.....Can anyone say "came home in under :24"? Seems even more impressive to me considering the early fractions, but I guess that is just me.

Originally Posted by chupster2

Errrr.....Can anyone say "came home in under :24"? Seems even more impressive to me considering the early fractions, but I guess that is just me.

Under 24 running Smarty Jones fractions would be impressive. But they walked for 6f (1:15.1/5 probably a bit slower for her) It was a Euro turf race by the numbers.

Originally Posted by pgardn

Under 24 running Smarty Jones fractions would be impressive. But they walked for 6f (1:15.1/5 probably a bit slower for her) It was a Euro turf race by the numbers.

Now I see CP West had the lead 1:15.37... thats the recipe for coming home in under 24. You cant do that easily going 23, 47, 1:11... Should be very interesting what kind of Beyer numbers they (Rags and Curlin) get.

1:40 for the mile... Smarty Jones at 1:35... Holy schnikes thats slow. Chupster they absolutely walked. It was a very weird race. I love the filly, but that was not a taxing run. Thats how you come home fast.

Can anyone imagine where we might be with Rags right now if Pletcher had decided to run her in the Derby and she had stumbled like that. She most likely would have had no chance. And then everyone would be saying what a dumb... for running her.

Patience, timing, and luck come together. Along with a horse that can apparently run marathon distances.

[Danzig]

photo of rags' break:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/appho...hotoId=1597337

[_ed_]

That was a wonderful race. I was sitting down in front of the TV but as they turned for home I stood up for no apparent reason.

One of the most exciting races I've seen in a long time. If you were able to close your jaw in the 1-2 minutes after that race, I don't think you're a racing fan.