Ruffian - maybe the greatest debut of all-time

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

That was one thing Zenyatta always had going for her, her performances were so mediocre and relatively slow that they were easy to come back from. Look at her after those California wins - she comes prancing back looking like she wasn't even in a horse race. After the BC Classic - she came back hot and dirty - looking so tired that if you sprayed her with a hose you might knock her over. Those are the type of efforts horses don't always come back from - especially females.

That's probably the single most interesting thing said on here about Zenyatta.

Of course, all the ZT'ers (Zenyattards) out there will tell you she was tired because she nearly fell down when that horse crashed into her, plus she was tied up from being in the cold.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

In terms of how Ruffian's 3yo stakes figures relate to other great 3yo fillies:

The best 3yo filly of the 90's - Go For Wand's last five starts before the BC Distaff breakdown:

Beldame - 117
Maskette - 105
Alabama - 111
Test - 114
Mother Goose - 104


Rachel Alexandra at age 3:




Silverbulletday's entrie career - like Rachel Alexandra, she was a MUCH maligned 4yo - but really all she did was tail off from a tough campaign loaded with great performances late in her 3yo season. At age 4, she was good and fast again - but just didn't develop from her 3yo season.




Another nice 3yo filly season was Dance Smartly - she was a perfect 8-for-8. She swept the Canadian Triple Crown against the males - won the Molson Million under a hand ride over Eclipse champion 2yo male Fly So Free. Capped off her perfect season with a BC Distaff win. Like RA and SBD - she also didn't develop at age 4 and was much maligned.

[randallscott35]

Can you post Blushing KD's career

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Monmouth Oaks was the last race before she died.