Fabulous Fillies

I watched the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago Saturday.  I really have mixed feelings about horse racing, (that will be a different post some day)  however, I can't deny that horse racing is exciting, especially when a filly is running against the boys.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does it's Billie Jean King vs. Bobby Riggs all over again.  There's just something so satisfying when the ladies win!  Here's a salute to some super fillies that not only ran against the boys, but won.

There have been thirty-nine fillies compete in the Kentucky Derby since the first running in 1875.  And only three fillies have ever won - Regret (in 1915), Genuine Risk (in 1980) and Winning Colors (in 1988).

Regret  Source:  Wikipedia

Genuine Risk  Photo by Barbara D. Livingston  Source:  Blood Horse

You can click on Genuine Risk's name under her picture to see her win.  And Winning Colors with a wire-to-wire win in the Kentucky Derby (click here to see a video) also won the Santa Anita Derby by 7 1/2 lengths. 

Winning Colors winning  Photo CDI   Source:  Blood Horse

There have been five fillies to win the Preakness Stakes, Nellie Morse (1924), Rhine Maiden (1915), Whimsical (1906), and Flocarline (1903), but Rachel Alexandra was the first horse (male or female) to win in 2009 from the 13th post.  She won two other Grade 1 races against the boys - the Haskell and the Woodward Stakes and was the 2009 Horse of the Year.  Prior to winning the Preakness, Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks (the Kentucky Derby for the ladies) by 20 lengths and ran the last eighth of a mile in 12 seconds!

Rachel Alexandra winning the Woodward  Source:  Wikpedia

Rachel Alexandra was the first filly to win the Woodward, but not the last.  In 2011 Havre de Grace also beat the boys in the Woodward and was the third filly in a row to garner Horse of the Year honors.

Havre de Grace  Photo by Barbara D. Livingston  Source:  Daily Racing Form

Three fillies have also won the Belmont Stakes - Ruthless in 1867, Tanya in 1905, and Rags to Riches in 2007.  Rags to Riches beat Preakness and Breeder's Cup Classic winner and 2007 and 2008 Horse of the Year Curlin.  See the two or them duel it out by clicking here.

I mentioned that there were three fillies in a row named Horse of the Year - Rachel Alexandra in 2009, Havre de Grace in 2011, and the fabulous Zenyatta in 2010.  She didn't win any of the Triple Crown Races, but she did win the Breeder's Cup Classic coming from dead last to beat Kentucky Derby winner Mine that Bird and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird.  That girl has a kick!  She was undefeated in 19 races and would have retired undefeated if she hadn't tried to win the Breeders' Cup Classic a second time and lost by a head.  She is also the only horse to have won both the Classic and the Ladies' Classic.

Zenyatta  Source:  Wikipedia

To see Zenyatta's Breeders' Cup Classic win, click here.  Twice Zenyatta came in second to AP Female Athlete of the Year voting, beaten out by Serena Williams and Lindsay Vonn.

Both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexander have now retired and both have given birth to a colt.  Rachel Alexander was bred to Curlin and Zenyatta to Preakness winner Bernardini.

Zenyatta with Baby Z  Source:  Zenyatta's website

Rachel Alexandra and Baby R  Photo: Stonestreet Farm  Source:  Blood Horse

Such pressure on the little guys to live up to both mom and dad!!  Only time will tell if they can deliver such Great Expectations.  Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta never ran against each other - something very much anticipated in the racing world - but maybe their kids will continue the rivalry.