Let’s hear it for the fillies
I don’t follow horse racing, but I do take an interest in fillies. And so I’m very happy to hear that Rachel Alexandra (doesn’t really sound like a horse, does it?—even a girl horse) has won the Preakness, the first filly to do do since 1924.
What’s more, she seems in fine fettle after the feat. A far cry from last year’s Kentucky Derby, and the sad memory of what happened to another extraordinary filly of yesteryear, Ruffian.
That was so sad…when the filly collapsed. But wasn’t it great to see “Mine That Bird” come from behind to win….50 to 1. Wish I had bet our retirement funds on that horse. Still would have a problem wondering what to do with the winnings in light of the coming inflation!
Wonderful race.
My wife was pulling for the filly of course. I was pulling for Mine that Bird. I found it odd that the filly got a 5lb weight allowance even though she was 1.1 hands taller and considerably heavier (more muscular) than the rather diminutive MTB. That’s life.
Anyway, both proved themselves. MTB definitely showed that his deserving win in the Derby wasn’t a fluke; and Rachel proved that she is a great race horse.
Will be interesting to see if they match up in the Belmont.
Rachel Alexandra could be the best filly/mare since Personal Ensign, who ran in the late ’80’s. And Calvin Borel seems like a genuinely nice person. Has there ever been a year in which a jockey won all three Triple Crown races even though he didn’t ride the same horse in each?
Filly: is that a horse of a different gender?
I don’t get why MTB is allowed to lag so far behind. Part of his strategy to employ his great finishing speed i suppose. Another 1/16 mile and he would have won by 10 lengths. Which interestingly would have made the race the same length as the derby.
Meanwhile, the race at that track is pretty much over. their latest move to control the morals of the crowd bacfired and a huge amount didnt show up. i guess the freak show in the center was part of the attraction in modern times. now they are close to bankruptcy.
Gringo: no, it’s how I would spell the City Of Brotherly Love.
Tatyana: I stand corrected
🙂
RU serious Gringo?
Oldflyer: What are smiley faces for? To indicate that one is in dead earnest?
No Smiley face on your first post, Gringo. I guess you are too subtle for me; that is why I asked.
Play on words: “horse of a different color”
“horse of a different gender”
I thought you were using “different gender” in the modern sense of trans-sexual or maybe as we used to say AC-DC.
I used to think a filly had to be a virgin, but when I looked it up it simply said “young”.
Like I said. too subtle.
Off topic
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124260067214828295.html