I wish she wouldn’t.
Why?
I agree. I just think that it’s tempting fate.
Fillies and mares run against males in many other countries, very often successfully. Barring a terrible tragedy (which could happen in any race), I don’t see the downside. If she wins, wow. If she loses, she is still the top three year old filly.
Why?
Something about testosterone being in the vicinity makes fillies bones weak. Not
It gives them the vapors
I guess it just goes back to the Ruffian - Foolish Pleasure match up. I know there have been races where it has worked out (Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta) but the memory of that day is hard to forget.
Scarred for life.
Rachel Alexandra. Havre de Grace. Zenyatta.
Closer to Ruffian’s era - Genuine Risk ran in all 3 TC races without incident (other than getting hit in the face by Cordero in the Preakness). Winning Colors peaked at the right time.
Then there are the fillies who’ve taken it to the boys in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Just since 2000 we’ve had Zarkava, Danedream, Solemia, Treve (2x), Found, Enable (2x), and Alpinista. I know it’s on turf but it’s 12 furlongs on an undulating track. Enable almost always ran against, and beat, males after she turned 3.
Running against males is no harder on them physically than running against their own sex. I suspect everyone here knows that.
The one that haunts me still is Go For Wand…and her breakdown was in the BC Distaff.
I do think it’s a good thing that match races are no more.
McPeek stated that TA worked with Mystic Dan all winter. Does not seem to have had ill effects.
Awww she came soooo close!
Who won? I couldn’t find a stream online that wasn’t behind a signup.
Fierceness, not by much though! She was right there!
She ran her heart out, very impressed by her even in defeat.
Fierceness by a head. I was rooting for the filly who came Oh-SO-Close. She was awesome IMO even not quite getting the win. Girl Power!! Edited to add: I read earlier today that there was some speculation that she wouldnt deal with the 1 1/4 mile distance. That sure didn’t seem to matter here. Love that filly!!!
TA ran an absolute stellar race!
Not to take away from Fierceness, but man she’s something else.
Lol I was up in my feet screaming at the TV, I think my neighbours could hear me 
Happy to have seen this race, both horses ran their guts out. And all seem to have come back OK. The times were so fast in the earlier races I was concerned that the track was too fast (hard) to be safe.
Now reading elsewhere that Dornach had extremely loose poops pre-race. Loose poops pre-race not unusual (tension, hot weather) but according to reports, his were unusually loose. Hope he is OK.
