The filly is for real

But I'm not sure Rachel Alexandra was as spectacular in winning the Preakness as the NBC announcers were gushing. It's intriguing to think that had she not been in the race, Mine That Bird would now be trying for a Triple Crown in three weeks. But that's horse racing. Makes you realize how special the Triple Crown winners of the 70's were.

I am so happy new owner Jess Jackson is running Rachel Alexandra against colts, when her previous owner was so determined not to. With all due apologies, the quote that "fillies should run against fillies and colts against colts," and that the Triple Crown races are to determine stallion prospects, is a crock of baloney. I much more agree with Mr. Jackson's assessment that "champions race against champions." Funny Cide wasn't a stallion prospect, nor is Mine That Bird (although I'm trying to remember, and I seem to remember, that once upon a time, geldings were not permitted to run in the Derby. I'll try to find that out for sure.) If you go with only running fillies against other fillies, we'd never have had Rags to Riches' heart-stirring victory over Curlin in the Belmont; we'd never have seen Genuine Risk or Winning Colors win the Derby. Rachel Alexandra has so dominated the females in her division, there was nothing left for her to prove there. She needed a new challenge, and today she had it, and she showed she was up to it. Now racing has a new superstar, which is what it needs every year.

I do think the race for Mine That Bird was lost at the top of the stretch, when he was behind horses and didn't have clear running room for about three or four strides, before Smith pulled him out around them and turned him loose. Had he been able to start his charge then, and not have been behind that wall of horses, he'd have caught Rachel Alexandra before the wire, I'm certain of it. Even as this was happening, I was in front of the TV set going, "He's going to lose the race right here; he doesn't have running room to get going." But that, too, is horse racing. If you have running room, you have a better chance to win. Get blocked, even if only for a moment, and you lose. It takes nothing away from the filly's effort and her glory in winning, that's for sure.

Jess Jackson is a great owner, too, because he allowed us to see Curlin run as a four-year-old, when the temptation for most owners is to rush a star three-year-old off to the breeding shed before the racing public has had a chance to fully enjoy their talents on the track.

I also don't buy into the notion that a filly is in greater danger of breaking down should she compete against the colts. Fillies break down running against other fillies, too - remember Go For Wand? Colts break down running against colts (Timely Writer, Barbaro, Charismatic, although at least they were able to save Charismatic.)

The Belmont, if both Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird return, should be very interesting!