The Year of the Phenomenal Fillies
Swiss Skydiver’s dramatic victory in the Preakness Stakes obviously stamped her as a contender for Horse of the Year, but where does that rank her on the popularity scale, especially with so many talented and popular fillies this year that the public can embrace? Winx and Zenyatta are the only females to win the “Vox Populi” Award for most popular horse. Will we add another female this year? Check out all the candidates. ~ Steve Haskin
The Year of the Phenomenal Fillies
By Steve Haskin
You have to love the way racing often moves in strange circles, with events somehow finding a way of eventually catching up to you. In 2007, we witnessed a filly, Rags to Riches, win the Belmont Stakes to become the first female to win a Triple Crown race in 19 years. In doing so, she had to turn in one of gutsiest performances in memory, battling the length of the stretch with an imposing long-striding colt in Curlin. Refusing to be beaten, Rags to Riches, trained by mega-trainer Todd Pletcher, looked Curlin in the eye and prevailed in a photo finish.
Three of the leading characters in that historic event were John Velasquez, who rode Rags to Riches, Robby Albarado, who rode Curlin, and trainer Kenny McPeek, who bought Curlin as a yearling for a bargain price of $57,000 before turning him over to his assistant Helen Pitts when he decided to take a sabbatical from training. When Curlin won the Preakness Stakes in a hard-fought victory, McPeek lost his opportunity to train his second classic winner.
Now, 13 years later, the same three players acted out an eerily similar scene, but with the script reversed. This time it was the Preakness Stakes. This time it was Velasquez who was on the colt that was coming off a hard-fought victory in a Triple Crown race. This time it was McPeek and Albarado who had the filly. And this time it was the mega-trainer (Bob Baffert) who was on the losing end.
The only thing that wasn’t reversed was the outcome, as once again it was the filly, who McPeek bought for a bargain price of $35,000, who battled the length of the stretch with the imposing, long-striding colt (Authentic), looking him in the eye and winning the final leg of the Triple Crown in a photo finish in one of the gutsiest performances in memory. But this time, McPeek got his second classic victory with a horse he picked out at the yearling sale for under $60,000. And in doing so he had the unique distinction of winning the final leg of the Triple Crown twice, but they were two different races.
By winning the Preakness, Swiss Skydiver not only put her name right near the top of the list of Horse of the Year candidates, but also right near the top of the list of candidates for the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, which salutes the most popular horse; the one that endeared himself or herself with the public. That was Penny Chenery’s intention when she started the award in 2010.
Swiss Skydiver, you see, is not your typical horse, male or female. Racing has turned into a conservative sport, with top horses, unlike their predecessors decades ago, running fewer and fewer races each year and with long gaps in between. But Swiss Skydiver has reached a point in her career where you can call her the second coming of “The Iron Lady,” the name bestowed to the indefatigable Lady’s Secret back in 1986. She is a throwback to the days when horses ran often from winter to late fall. But she has separated herself from those horses, who ran mainly in New York and rarely traveled long distances. And like Lady’s Secret, she was not afraid to tackle the boys.
To demonstrate the her toughness and resilience, she has competed in stakes races in January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, and October, and will conclude her campaign in November. During that time she has won stakes in Florida, Arkansas, California, New York, and Maryland, and placed in stakes in Kentucky and Louisiana. And to show what an easy horse to she is to ride, she won stakes this year with Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Smith, Paco Lopez, Brian Hernandez Jr., and Robby Albarado, who was pretty much brought out of mothballs at the last minute and gave her a sensational ride in the Preakness.
And no one can say she hasn’t beaten top-class opponents. Of the five horses who have finished second to her in stakes this year, two were Grade 1 winners, two were Grade 2 winners, and one was a listed stakes winner. She has faced 22 male horses this year and finished ahead of 21 of them. In the one losing effort McPeek felt she should have won, the Kentucky Oaks, she was dropping back to a mile and eighth from a mile and a quarter, which had to dull her a bit, and she was coming back off that 10-furlong race in only 20 days. The filly that beat her by 1 1/2 lengths in the Kentucky Oaks was Shedaresthedevil, who Swiss Skydiver beat by 13 1/4 lengths the only other time they met in the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn.
From a pedigree standpoint, Swiss Skydiver’s sire, Daredevil, never won or placed over a mile. Her dam, Expo Gold, won two races, both of them sprints. Her paternal grandsire, More Than Ready, won seven races, all of them sprints, and her maternal grandsire, Johannesburg, won or placed in eight races, seven of them sprints. Yet Swiss Skydiver has won Grade 1 stakes going 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/16 miles.
One note about her dam, Expo Gold, who is inbred to the great Damascus, she was a $32,000 RNA as a yearling. Then in 2017, at age 9, she was put in the Keeneland November Bloodstock Sale and sold for a mere $13,000. Two years later, she wound up in the California Breeders’ January sale at Pomona Fairplex Park and sold for only $15,000. Now here she is 21 months later the dam of a classic winner who is on the verge of possibly becoming Horse of the Year. It is only appropriate that Expo Gold was born on April’s Fool’s Day.
Oh, yes, one more thing: Swiss Skydiver’s winning time in the Preakness was one-fifth of a second off Secretariat’s stakes record set 47 years ago.
So you can plainly see why Swiss Skydiver is so special, why she can stake her claim for Horse of the Year, and why she has built up a fan base worthy of a Vox Populi Award.
But Swiss Skydiver is not the only female this year who has earned a loyal following. How about Starship Jubilee, who did the unthinkable by winning a Grade 1 stakes against the boys at the age of 7?
Starship Jubilee sold as a yearling for a meager $6,500. A pinhook attempt the following year failed when she was unable to meet her reserve at the Ocala 2-year-old sale and was bought back for $34,000.
Her career, racing exclusively at Gulfstream Park, seemed to be going nowhere, especially after being claimed for $16,000 in back-to-back races. But after being claimed by Canadian trainer Tino Attard on February 12, 2017, Starship Jubilee has finished on the board in 27 of her 28 races, winning 12 stakes at Woodbine, Saratoga, Gulfstream Park, and Tampa Bay Downs, and placing in five others, including a second in a Grade 3 stakes at Churchill Downs. She has since won three Sovereign Awards for champion Female Turf Horse and one for Horse of the Year, and she is a sure thing to win both awards this year.
Several races after being claimed, Tino turned her training over to his son Kevin.
When Starship Jubilee began having success, she again went into the sales ring, now with higher expectations, but once again she failed to meet her reserve and was bought back, this time for $425,000. She reached her zenith on Sept. 19 when he defeated males in the $1 million, Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, increasing her lifetime earnings to almost $2.1 million. Not bad considering anyone could have had her for $6,500 and then for $16,000. Even if you had met her reserve in 2017 you would be way ahead, not only financially, but celebrating in all her victories and her championships, and possibly a trip to the Breeders’ Cup.
The popularity of fillies this year obviously spreads all the way to Europe where the amazing Enable ran in her fourth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at age 6 in an attempt to become the first horse to win three Arcs. The fact that she was unable to handle the heavy, testing ground at Longchamp in no way detracts from her amazing accomplishment of winning two Arcs, three King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the English and Irish Oaks, Eclipse Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Turf, and two Yorkshire Oaks.
Like Zenyatta, Enable’s final race resulting in defeat may only endear her to her fans even more, as she attempted to come back at age 6 and was faced with such harsh course conditions, yet still gave her all. The sporting gesture by her owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah, to bring such an accomplished mare back at that age to try to make history will also add to her already widespread popularity.
Back in the United States, we not only have a number of popular top-class fillies, such as Monomoy Girl and the recently retired Midnight Bisou, but there are others who have developed a growing fan base, most notably Serengeti Empress and the rising star Frank’s Rockette.
We are all aware of Serengeti Empress’ victories in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Ballerina Stakes, as well as several other stakes, but we can’t help think of her two heartbreaking defeats. In last year’s Test Stakes she went her half in :44 1/5 and then battled eventual Filly and Mare Sprint champion Covfefe stride for stride to the wire, only to be beaten a half-length. In her most recent start, the Grade I Derby City Distaff, she ran her half in a scorching :43 3/5 and turned back the challenge of dual Grade I winner Ce Ce in the upper stretch. But here came the late-running Belle’s the One, who looked like she was going to run right on by the leg-weary Serengeti Empress, who somehow found more and battled back, losing by the shortest of noses in a blistering 1:21 flat. And she had her nose in front one step past the wire in what has to be one of the gutsiest performances of the year. That was her second straight race in which she ran her half in :43 3/5, the first coming in a victory in the Ballerina, run in 1:21 3/5.
So, not only has Serengeti Empress become a fireball with her ridiculous half-mile fractions, she has shown everyone that she has no quit in her, which is why people are being drawn closer to her now than ever before.
As for Frank’s Rockette, she has emerged as a top-class 3-year-old sprinter, winning her last four starts and five of her last six, and has compiled a record of six victories and four seconds in 10 career starts. In the recent Gallant Bloom Handicap, she demonstrated how improved she is, romping by 7 1/4 lengths while being geared down the final eighth of a mile for her third straight graded stakes victory.
There was no doubting Midnight Bisou’s popularity after she rallied to be beaten a half-length by Maximum Security in the $20 million Saudi Cup earlier in the year. And, of course, there is Monomoy Girl, who had nothing left to prove after nailing down the 2018 3-year-old filly championship with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. But she was brought back this year after an 18-month layoff at age 5 and has won all three of her starts, including the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes and Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes. So you can be assured that her popularity is trending toward an all-time high as she prepares for another Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
And, finally, you have Uni and Rushing Fall from the Chad Brown barn. Uni, the 6-year-old mare with the lightning turn of foot who blew her opponents away in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile in 1:32 2/5, appeared to have lost her form after two defeats this year. But she bounced back this past weekend to win her second Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, where this year’s Breeders’ Cup will be run. And how can you not love Rushing Fall, who has won Grade 1 stakes at age 2, 3, 4, and 5, winning 11 of her 14 career starts. Also, what if the brilliant Gamine returns to her spectacular form when she drops back to sprints? So, you have females excelling this year who range from age 3 to age 7, on dirt and grass, in sprints and routes.
All these previously mentioned fillies and mares exemplify what the Vox Populi Award stands for, and with several of the talented and popular colts who are targeting the Breeders’ Cup, it should be a battle to the wire to determine who walks away with the award this year. We can all speculate who the deserving Eclipse Award winners will be, but when it comes to popularity and the Vox Populi Award, the voting does not come from statistics and accomplishments, but from the heart.
All great fillies.
Princess Noor might have something to say about it after she romps in the Breeders Cup.
I prefer Starship Jubilee for vox populi. Swiss Skydiver for horse of the year. She’s only 3, time for vox populi later. Winx and Zenyatta were older horses. Popularity needs time to grow. I happen to enjoy following the career of Pink Lloyd.
He’s 8 and like a wind-up toy, keeps doing the same thing over and over again, year after year, 25 wins in 31 starts. He and Starship Jubilee have both won Canadian Horse of the Year, different years. She has a more varied story than other top mares and fillies, which makes her more interesting to me.
That is a good point. No arguments here. I can see people voting for both of them.
During the weekend of the Preakness, 6 Grade 1 races around the world were won by females competing against males. The Preakness, two races in Australia, two in New Zealand, and one in Japan. In the races in New Zealand and Australia females finished first and second in all four of those Grade 1 events.
That is a great piece of information, Mike. Thank you
Off topic again, but this year’s Classic has FIVE horses—Maximum Security…Improbable….Tiz the Law…Authentic….Swiss Skydiver—possible to have FIVE horses who would win Horse of the Year if they won the race! I’m quite sure that has never happened before.
Excellent point. Should be interesting.
Steve, there is still a possibility that Enable may race once more. Prince Khalid Abdullah is fairly sporting so let’s hope he decides on the affirmative. Nothing worse than watching a great racehorse bow out miserably.
I saw that. Looks like she coulld run on Champions Day. Would love to see her go out a winner. Hopefully they’ll have a good course.
There’s also a pretty nice mare tryoing the Turf Sprint called Got Stormy—I think she’s going to be tough to beat in there!
I almost included her, but I thought it was one too many. But she does have a fan base, probably more so last year than this year.
Hey Steve I know you like talking about the older days, and I thought of something today, from a Jan, 1972 Racing Form, it does nor concern our 2020 Preakness winner—a race that will become “iconic”, in my opinion—
The Jan, 1972 Eclipse edition of the Racing Form was the FIRST Eclipse edition, and there was a remarkable symmetry to the Horse of the Year vote, and it concerned two horses that Charlie Wittingham kept out of each other’s way—AFTER he realized both of his horses could handle dirt!
In the Big Cap, a race that along with The Woodward were considered the two strongest races in North America— Ack Ack went out over a HEAVY surface–and made it look FAST—setting torrid splits before holding Cougar II at bay…Ack Ack went on to win the American on turf, then the Hollywood Gold Cup by six under 134 lbs…..but he was injured in July—and out for the last five months—
Cougar II won the Californian, coming from far back and collaring Never Bow–sent from New York to try The Big Cat….Whittingham went east for the Woodward—he was always a lugger—horses that pack a big kick lug in turning into the stretch as a rule–moving too fast for their lead-change—but Cougar lugged something terribly–ran with head-up, tail out (longtail)—big closing kick! Won the Woodward by FIVE and got DQ’d, but THAT was the race that won Ack Ack HOY…..
The folded pages of the 1972 Eclipes edition of the Form read: “Demonstrating Prowess” under the big picture of the headline Racing Form article….I don’t remember if it was written by Pat Rogerson or not–a name from the past—“Demonstrating Prowess”…and it shows Ack Ack under hand, boot, whip, & Shoe—staving off the great Cougar….the 70’s was the great decade, and most of the greatness of the 70’s happened in New York—1971 though, it was all about The Big Cap….The Woodward….Ack Ack & Cougar II.
That is ironic, Matthew. My next column is all about Ack ack and the Big Cap. Already sent in. Should be posted Monday or Tuesday
Wow what a coincidence—I remembered that line “Demonstrating Prowess”—and just thought you might get a kick outta it—I knew it was off-topic but am glad I posted it!
Thank you Steve for another fantastic story. Swiss Skydiver is really special. Her winning the Preakness took a bit of the sting out of the loss of Midnight Bisou.
I appreciate it, thank you very much
In 2017, Ken McPeek had another outstanding filly who had run second in the Kentucky Oaks, Daddys Lil Darling. Instead of setting Daddys Lil Darling for the Preakness Stakes she was shipped to England with the Epsom Oaks as a daunting task.
Unfortunately, prior to Oaks the heavens opened with thunder and lightening flashing all around. Daddys Lil Darling became rattled and ran off uncontrollably, alas, Daddys Lil Darling never made it to the race. The 8-11 Oaks favorite, Rhododendron, was upset by a filly named Enable. The racing gods were anointing a new champion that afternoon.
Luck in racing is extremely fickle but, funnily enough, things tend to even themselves out in the long run. What a marvellous win by Swiss Skydiver. Everyone hoped for a glorious departure for Enable but racing often lacks sentimentality. Nonetheless, Sottsass was a deserved winner of the Arc, his speed was always going to be an advantage and was perfectly executed by Cristian Demuro. That’s racing.
Wonderful essay, Steve. Hopefully, there are more stories of the great fillies/mares of yesteryear from both sides of the Atlantic.
Bravo, for your prescience in regard to Sottsass. He was clearly the best in that race.
It’s probably vain to hope Enable will race again, though from the looks of her I’ve no doubt she wants to continue.
It’s great when everything works. The win provides Sottsass with every chance at Coolmore. Siyouni goes from strength to strength as a sire. I remember John Gosden, earlier in the year, saying that Enable was more a broodmare than a racehorse, psychically, and the difficulties of trying to bring her back once more.
It’ll be intriguing to see which sire Enable goes to initially? Frankel or Kingman?
, Kingman would be a great choice, and I’d love to see her go to Sea the Stars, too.
I’d go with Siyouni. Zarkava’s daughter Zaykava, by Siyouni, looked impressive the other day.
Oh, she’s a beauty, and looks very promising. One to keep an eye on for sure.
I’ll have to go have a look.
Enable has been retired and will visit Kingman. Wouldn’t it be great if Enable replicated the feats of Urban Sea, Height of Fashion, Hasili, Kind, Miesque, Best in Show, Razyana et al.
I’m sure Enable will be bred to the best, and Kingman suits the word, so here’s hoping for the best.
To my inexpert mind, Frankel seems too closely related to be a good choice, though if you’re going to line breed, Galileo seems a worthy horse with which to double (or triple) down.
Years back the Aga Khan feared there was too much Northern Dancer blood in the European herd which was very persuasive. Nonetheless, Coolmore have been able to use that source time and time again with great success.
With Enable, a dash of speed appears the better outcome. Time will tell.
Golden Horn also comes to mind, but he’s bred much like Kingman.
Was the Northern Dancer blood truly pervasive, or merely that the Aga Khan was persuasive, as you say?
Perhaps, the easiest way to explain the concern/theory would be for you to read “ Rapid concentration of certain sire lines threatening genetic diversity” by Kent Barnes 14 April 2020 in the website of The Owner Breeder.
Replying here because we came to the end of the permitted turn sequence… I will go have a read of the article you reference. My comment may have come across differently had my stage directions for grinning not been elided by the host software. I was mostly tweaking you for writing “persuasive” where you seem to have intended “pervasive.”
I miss having an editing option.
No, no. Persuasive intended. The Aga Khan, among others, were concerned there was too much Northern Dancer over Northern Dancer in the European herd from 1995 – 2006. Here’s an extract from Bill Oppenheim discussing this issue:
“The incidence of “Northern Dancer over Northern Dancer” as a percentage of all Northern Dancer-line sired A Runners, by year foaled, 1996-2005, has increased from 13.2 percent among 380 Northern Dancer-line sired A Runners foaled in 1996 to 22.4 percent of the 566 Northern Dancer-line sired A Runners foaled in 2004, and 22.7 percent of the 409 Northern Dancer-line sired A Runners of 2005 (including just three-year-olds by the end of 2008, so the number of 2005-foaled A Runners will have increased significantly by the end of 2009).’
Sorry for missing the point of your mention of the Aga Khan. I’ve not yet had the spare processor cycles to read the Barnes article, but I can vouch for being broadly familiar with the sort of general evils caused by a lack of genetic diversity in a population. Sustainability should be a primary principle guiding people’s actions far more than it seems to be. Are you familiar with the concept of a zero growth economy?
Yes, I see where your argument is heading re:”lack of genetic diversity” and the “concept of a zero growth economy.” The Aga Khan encouraged the introduction of Australian bloodlines to the European herd as a means of reinvigorating a perceived sense of stagnation, lack of ‘progression’ in the European bloodlines. Moreover, to somewhat disperse/dilute the Northern Dancer blood that appeared overwhelming at the time.
“The Aga Khan encouraged the introduction of Australian bloodlines to the European herd as a means of reinvigorating a perceived sense of stagnation, lack of ‘progression’ in the European bloodlines. Moreover, to somewhat disperse/dilute the Northern Dancer blood that appeared overwhelming at the time.”
“The rich are different from you and me.” I bet you can see where my argument (in part) is heading…. 😉
In the US, we’ve lost some of the great tail-male lines for the foreseeable future, though at least some continue elsewhere with varying degrees of success. I don’t think research has shown definitively that there is no particular genetic importance attached to the Y-chromosome, but I think I am correct that the current view is that none has been shown?
Something I’d like to have some real time to think about – but don’t at the moment – is what can be done to shift the incentives in the thoroughbred industry to support its reformation into a more sustainable socioeconomic system, at least here in the US. It’s probably more important I settle my opinion on the health care and health insurance industries first, however less fun.
Related, I’ve decided I should support my interest in the thoroughbred system with money, whether by betting and/or micro-ownership, but it will be at least a month and maybe six before I have mental time and space to devote real attention to which and to how. (I was sorry to have missed the opportunity to buy into Tizamagician for sentimental reasons; His recent 12f performance suggests that investment may yet pay off in other ways. Yay.)
I hope the ‘micro-ownership’ concept really blossoms and is not just a fad because it provides a fuller experience in racing than merely betting on someone else’s horse. Moreover, besides ensuring a fan base the concept should help in raising concerns of racehorse aftercare in the US and overseas. Good for you.
Addendum: In Frankel’s case, there would be tripling of the redoubtable Sadler’s Wells and merely a doubling of Galileo.
Saw Etoile (Siyouni) won the G1 EP Taylor today, taking a big step forward in her first win in almost a year and a half. Didn’t make the connection with Sottsass earlier, not having paid much attention to her breeding while she was having little success. My bad.
So happy you highlighted the girls after Swiss Skydiver’s brilliant performance! The girls really are
something this year and have given us a lot to be happy about in a very rough year. Swiss
Skydiver’s win on Saturday was spectacular. I could not believe she did not let him by her.
I can think of very few cases where we have seen such two in credibly talented horses go eyeball
to eyeball and then have the filly win. She was all heart and guts.
There was no shame in Authentic’s race at all and anyone who doubted him beforehand should
be very impressed now. He was very tough. I am glad they are not putting her in the BCC this year and
going to the Distaff instead. The right decision. She would be up against it with a rested Tiz the Law, Authentic,
Max, and Improbable. If they want her to be racing at 4, which is the plan, it is best to go to the Distaff. Her price,
when she was sold, does not reflect Swiss Skydiver’s incredible heart and will to win.
Kenny McPeek and Peter Callahan deserve lots of kudos for looking beyond her low price and seeing her potential. I think she would be a very deserving winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award. She has been to tracks all over the country and had several riders. She would be a fine pick for the award.
Serengeti Empress is another one to really watch. Monomoy Girl is going to be tough in the Distaff and
anyone competing against her will have to bring their A game. Then Gamine who will be formidable in the shorter
distance.
Enable is on the list of female immortals in the racing world. What an amazing legacy she has left. No one is
repeating that list of wins again. That belongs to her alone.
Midnight Bisou owes no one anything and she too has left quite a legacy. They
didn’t really have a choice given her injury, but she deserves her retirement.
Princess Noor deserves to be mentioned as a top Filly this year too. I believe her best is yet to come.
Thanks for the informative and well written article about the amazing fillies and mares that have been running in this century. And thanks for the information about the Kenny McPeek and Robbie Albarado connection with the amazing run of Curlin in the Preakness. I never knew that McPeek had also purchased Curlin for a pittance. Swiss Skydiver, with her very classy pedigree from the top and bottom was also a bargain basement price. I am so happy for both McPeek, Albarado, and the owner Callahan in winning the Preakness.
And it’s more than a coincidence that Swiss Skydiver ran the second fastest Preakness to her great great great grand sire, Secretariat, on her dam’s side. And she did it two days before the anniversary of Big Red’s death. At the end of the race, you can see that she has the immense chest girth of Big Red.
She belongs in the discussion of the Vox Populi and the Horse of the Year.
It’s way too early to consider her for the Vox Populi award, but if she continues on her path, perhaps Princess Noor, an upcoming 2 year old who has been sensational thus far, could join this pantheon…This is quite an impressive list, but right now, I’m going with Monomoy Girl.
Last ten starts at ten different tracks! Sire stands in Turkey! Bought for $35k! 90 % going to run in the Classic! Going to race next season!
This year has been so crazy but the female racers are thriving I can’t remember a year filled with so many top flight ladies .Thanks Steve for laying them all out for us to enjoy . I am taken with each one of them but man Swiss Skydiver was so impressive last Saturday I’m still wearing a smile .
Great read, as usual. While I look forward to the Triple Crown going back to 5 weeks in the spring, this was a pretty fun season, overall, with the Preakness the best race out of the three.
While I’m disappointed Swiss Skydiver won’t try the Classic this year, you’re right; she’s only 3 and I trust McPeek to do what’s best for her. And he’s already demonstrated that he’s not afraid to try her against the boys when the circumstances are right. Between that and her being a true mile-and-a-quarter horse… Midnight Bisou did quite well in Dubai… just saying… 😉
Thanks. you rarely, if ever, see a 3-year-old filly try the Classic. And she’s coming off the hardest race of her career. You heard her blowing after the race. Yes, the Triple Crown, as weird as it was, proved entertaining, with each race getting better. The Derby and Preakness at least felt like TC races. The Belmont did not to me. It was just the Peter Pan with Tiz the Law added.
Agree about the Belmont seeming like the odd race out—but they had little or no choice, with the Derby in September—they could not run as the third leg, what with the Classic coming up….the 2020 Preakness will be debated for years, did Johnny V get too cute waiting on the field, instead of opening up some down the backstretch?….Authentic went from the clear leader to the main stalker—I think getting the lead like that made SS double tough in the lane….she wanted it!
Ha! “The Peter Pan with Tiz the Law added.” What a perfect summation. I get why the Belmont was done that way, but I prefer my Belmont at a mile-and-a-half. (I also prefer it with me there in person, slightly tipsy and stuffed full of lobster roll by post time, but what’re you gonna do? With luck, all will be back next year.)
That was nice, Steve. I read this fine replay through the years Hearing it in your voice and cadence. (Familiar with that because of your many Sirius/XM radio appearances with Steve Byk.) Thanks for the fun and thanks for the joy you share for horse racing. C.
I appreciate it, Chris. Thank you very much. I hope when you heard my voice it wasnt with a Brooklyn accent.
Brava, Swiss Skydiver! So much heart shown by her & each of these stellar fillies. Thanks for placing their brilliant campaigns center stage. Wishing Midnight Bisou a perfect recovery. ‘Merci’ to her & Enable for being glorious ~ may they enjoy beautiful lives.
Great article. Great read to bring us all up to date on the great fillies and mares. Such an unusual year over all and with the racing schedule being so different . This was a real thriller. She laid it all down on the track for sure. Move over fella, I got this! There are many great mares and fillies out there and it is the year of the ladies Im sure for the Vox Populi. There is a sweet little filly not very well known but watch her race. WHISTLE STOP!
Kinda like a Peppers Pride. May all the horses stay healthy . It was quite a Preakness. I hope fervently for fan participation in the very near future. But am very appreciative of the coverage that has been on TV. Maybe when the votes come in it will be a three way tie! Starship Jubilee, Swiss Skydiver and ???? Pick one ! Love every horse you mentioned and many others. Chestnut mares rock.
Thanks Delrene. I will check out Whistle Stop
ANNOUNCEMENT: On Wednesday Oct. 7 and Thursday Oct. 8, as a lead-in to the virtual Secretariat Festival on Oct. 10-11, I am opening up my Facebook page for a live Questions and Answers session, where anyone can ask me questions about Secretariat, Riva Ridge, the Vox Populi Award (Many good choices this year), and any questions you might have about me, personally or professionally, or anything else you wish to ask me. I am an open book for two days . I will answer each question as they come in and will try to keep up as best as I can. Even if it gets backed up I will answer all questions in due time. Hope to see you there. And then don’t forget to join all the great Secretariat Festival events, including the free virtual tours (including Claiborne Farm and Old Friends) and talks by leading racing personalities, including Ron Turcotte, Eddie Maple, Pat Day, Kenny Rice, and Kate Tweedy on the Secretariat.com Facebook page and Secretariat Festival Facbook page..
iF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO GET ON fACEBOOK FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS RIGHT HERE AND i WILL TRY MY BEST TO ANSWER ALL OF THEM.
Ruffian!
Ruiffian!
Wow Steve you tell a story so well I feel like I am watching unfold all over again.
This was one of your best writings (all of them are for that matter). I actually put a few bucks on Thousand Words. The way 2020 has gone I figured just maybe that a horse who flipped over in the Derby & was scratched might come back & romp in the Preakness. Swiss Skydiver is a brilliant filly. I just hope they have not run her in the ground, she just raced for the 9th time this year.
A couple years back I felt that was what happened to Songbird. At age 4 she was gutted from all of her hard races at age 3.
I love Monomoy Girl. She is my favorite horse racing right now. To come back from that long layoff and go 3 for 3 is amazing.
I think she wins the Ladies Classic or Distaff if they choose to race her there.
I felt Art Collector with 2 months off would not be sharp so I did not include him in any exotics.
You’re correct, Enable is a true gem and a great race horse. I truly she has a wonderful retirement. We have been blessed with so many great fillies & mares these past 15 years. Hard to name them all.
Thank you, Deacon. This filly is the antithesis of what racing is today. She surely is a throwback.
I was SCREAMING Swiss Skydiver home. What a great race, and obviously an odd Triplr Crown. Thanks for another great article!
As a lifelong horsewoman, there is nothing better than a good mare. They are often hard to handle but well worth it because they have so much heart. Chestnut mares are renown in our world for being opinionated, but can’t beat a good one. To me, Swiss Skydiver is the epitome of this. And Enable looked so happy and grand with her ears perked on the way to the post yesterday.
That should be ears pricked.
I cant believe how spectacular Enable looked before the race. She was in the zone,head up, ears up, neck arched slightly, which makes it so disappointing she had to end her career running on such bad ground.
Thanks Steve for all that great information (I’d forgotten about Rushing Fall). There’s just something about these equine athletes, female or male that get’s under the skin. Man do I miss live racing!
I saw the race live and was extremely impressed at the way she refused to be headed. I will admit, though, some worry–I’ve never seen or heard a horse blowing so hard after a race. And she’s had more races over more surfaces than most of the boys this year. They’re talking Breeders Cup, and I understand why, but think she might deserve a good rest.
Also noted, with a tip of the hat to the late John Nerud, in the home stretch with the camera angle to the fore of both driving horses–she seemed to be much broader in the chest than Authentic. Maybe not an honest angle, but her conformation is impressive.
I even commented to my wife how hard she was blowing. At least she has 5 weeks and not 4, but you always have to wonder when she is going to bottom out. So far she has shown no signs of it and is aactually better now and stronger.
For some reason we all feel something a little more about the Distaff side. I like to think it’s my chivalrous nature. In my life its starts with Ruffian then Genuine Risk, Personal Ensign, Miesque, Rag to Riches, Rachel Alexander, Winx, Enable of course the great Zenyatta and now Swiss Skydiver. WOW a 153.1.There still a lot of ones that came in between. It’s a joy watching them let alone great memories. With every filly foal there’s hope for another and that’s what keeps us going and there will be!
Thanks Steve. She certainly is as close in ambition as we are likely to get to Lady’s Secret’s campaigns once she started winning top races. She may not be as brilliant but Swiss Skydiver is certainly a more imposing looking filly than the Iron Lady. I hope she continues to thrill us as fans.
THank you for this great articles about the amazing fillies we have this year! I didn’t realize their stats were so fantastic!
Thank you very much, Heather, glad you are enjoying them
Gamine excited me in a way I havent been since the fabulous Ruffian. Then along comes Swiss Skydiver who ran off and left her behind. Followed by SS winning the Preakness. Midnight Bisou has been retired. I have been more interested in the “girls” this year.
Thanks for the great article.
Thank you, Steve, You probably don’t remember me (that’s ok!), I don’t write much, but I’m still reading! And what a good read this was! What wonderful fillies! Sometimes I get lazy and stop reading articles, but never with your pieces. I read every single word, knowing how much I will enjoy it. So, thanks again. Can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you very much, Jennifer. I appreciate. You ask if I remember you. Have we ever met?
Fantastic! And I love watching Serengeti Empress run. Just take a big breath at the break and watch her go go go!
I also have a soft spot for Gamine. My mom took me to Arlington once a year when I was a kid, and to riding lessons, but horses weren’t her thing. She supported me, but it was never her enthusiasm. But now decades later in the year of pandemic, she got into Foal Patrol and started paying attention. And then one day it happened – I got the FB Message:
DID YOU SEE FAMINE’S RACE???
*GAMINE
She’d seen the Acorn before I did!
Sharing this year in racing with her from afar has been a gift in this unprecedented year.
Hi Wendy,
So happy for you that you and your mom are connecting through racing. My mom and I went to Arlington when I was a kid (and teenager) too, and we shared a love of racing for more than 40 years. For many of those years, we were 2000 miles apart, but for the last eight years of her life, we lived near each other, and what a gift it was to watch the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races together again. My mom would have loved Swiss Skydiver’s Preakness. Every time a Triple Crown race is run, I think of her.
She ran like a girl, to paraphrase the slogan chanted as Rachel ran her historic campaign. I was so thrilled for Swiss Skydiver and Kenny McPeek. And glad to see Robby back in the irons on a winner. I love reading about all the gallant and great fillies, and I thank you for this gem of an article. Steve, do you think she should go to the Breeder’s Cup, or go back to running with the girls? That’s a tough question, imo. And I’m so glad you have this wonderful form for your superb writing.
If she’s coming into BC week the way she came into Preakness week, I hope we’ll see her in the Classic. The distaff with Midnight Bisou/Shedaresthedevil/Monomoy Girl/Swiss Skydiver was tremendously exciting (presuming Gamine goes to the Sprint instead), but Bisou (may she recover well for her next career!) is out and Shedaresthedevil came back to earth after that amazing Oaks. There’s a bit of shine gone already. It would be a thrill to see them go all in!
But, as always, let the horse dictate. If she left it all on the table in the Preakness, then heck – do right by her and we’ll see what happens next!
I hope they let her health and spirit dictate her path. Seems she won’t be running in the BC Classic but rather the Distaff. She’s run a lot this year and I’d hate to see her gutted. What a special filly she is!
The owner has already said they are going to the Distaff. She is still ony 3 and will be brought back next year. Expect to see her in the Classic then. Remember, even Zenyatta chose the Distaff until she was ready to tackle the boys. Tough assignment for a 3-year-old filly
Thanks for the perspective and informative comments, Steve. I’m relieved they won’t run her against males in the Breeder’s Cup. Another grand filly/mare we haven’t talked about is the gritty little Goldikova. She was a thrill to watch.
Nice recap of Swiss Skydiver’s Preakness, Steve! Love the way you put it in context with all the other great performances by fillies and mares this year.