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Al Kazeem gets up to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot! Posted 14 hours ago
Game On Dude worked 6f in 1:13.40 (2/8) at Santa Anita on 6-18. Posted 1 day ago
Declaration of War upsets the Queen Anne Stakes! Posted 1 day ago
Normandy Invasion breezed 4f in :48.40 (3/56) at Saratoga on 6-16. Posted 3 days ago
Smiling Tiger posted a 3F bullet in 35:60 (1/12) at Pleasanton on June 15. Posted 4 days ago
Fort Larned runs them off their feet in the Stephen Foster!Posted 4 days ago
There will be a Pick Six carryover of $130,526 when racing resumes Sunday at Hollywood.Posted 4 days ago
Funny Proposition shocks the champ in the Fleur de Lis!Posted 4 days ago
Free World rolls in the Centaur Stakes at Indiana Downs! Posted 4 days ago
Byrama romps in the Vanity!Posted 4 days ago

Ride
Princess Rooney
against other champions!

Princess Rooney

1980 - Mare
2 fans2

2 favorites2

[Edit]

Status:

Deceased

Owner(s):

Paula Tucker - Gentry Brothers Farm

Trainer:

Neil D. Drysdale

Bred:

Kentucky (USA) by Parrish Hill Farm

Pedigree:

Verbatim - Parrish Princess by Drone

Rating:

8.76/10

Profile

Pedigree

Progeny

Siblings

Photos

What the Nation is saying about Princess Rooney...

The Top 10 Gray Horses of All-time

Is Hansen or Creative Cause good enough to be considered one of the best gray thoroughbreds? If so, they would have to be better than some of the greatest horses of all time. Read More

Show All 50 Comments
zatt · Great work, Matt. Although ... Native Dancer ahead of Spectacular Bid, and Winning Colors ahead of Princess Rooney? No!!! · 464 days ago ·

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larooski · Creative Cause is taking the same path to the Derby as another gray, Silver Charm. I like it. · 464 days ago ·

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Mary Z. · Exactly, larooski, and CC is descended from the first grey Derby winner, Determine. · 464 days ago ·

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The Bid · Curlin was the best horse since The Bid, and The Bid was better than Secretariat. Not only do I rank The Bid as the best Gray of all Time, I rank him as The best Thoroughbred of all time... No one comes close the perfection of The Bid, undefeated from 7 furlongs to 1 1/4 mile. His American record still stands today, over 30 years later at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 mile. and we all know that classic distance is run by the best horses every year, The Derby, The BC Classic..etc.... · 464 days ago ·

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candice.c.curtis · I must agree about Skip Away - best grey horse of my lifetime :) · 464 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · Kudos to Candice for the SUPERB "Gray Matters" photo collage! Thanks skipaway2000! · 464 days ago ·

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larooski · Skip Away no doubt the best horse gray since Andrew Beyer started making his speed numbers.. His figs were huge! · 464 days ago ·

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larooski · No telling what kinds of times Secretariat would have put up had he raced at 4. He ran 2:24 flat in June of his 3yo season! If he runs that distance as a 4yo 2:23 maybe? 2:22 and change? · 464 days ago ·

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The Bid · larooski, your right . there is no telling what time Secretariat COULD have put up, but the fact is he did not race at four, and The Bid did, and gave us a year in perfection carrying 130 lbs or more on numerous occasions. and remember this,The Bid 30 wins 4 losses, Secretariat 16 wins and 4 losses, · 464 days ago ·

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larooski · I don't see how Secretariat not racing at 4 makes him not as good. The track at Hollywood when The Bid broke that record was the fastest track ever for a race too. The Bid didn't even win the Belmont. If he was truely lame that morning he wouldn't have run. · 464 days ago ·

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larooski · The race that SB broke the record in was the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita. He came back 4 weeks later at the same track and distance and ran 3 seconds slower. SB Derby time was 2:02.4 · 464 days ago ·

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The Bid · Opinions..we all have them, I saw both great horses run, IMO The Bid was better, 30 wins 4 losses, 16 wins 4 losses hmmmm, food for thought, IMO when the great Secretariat came along, the public and media were craving for a super horse, it had been 25 yrs since Citataion ran, and as good as Secrtetariat was, IMO he was made a media star, remember he lost 4 races too. he was not perfect nad did not complete a perfect season, and the highest compliment for any horse is a WALKOVER........that he cannot take away from The Bid · 464 days ago ·

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ChristineDix · Gotta add a few. Eight Belles, Herbager, Izvestia, Waquoit, With Approval, Vigors. Also for the steeplechaser Desert Orchid and for the harness Racing Peeps-Greyhound and Admiral's Express. · 464 days ago ·

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stevebiscuit · Nice list, here's mine: 1) Spectacular Bid(IMO the greatest horse of all time, regardless of color), 2) Native Dancer(1950's Zenyatta), 3) Holy Bull(unbeatable on his best day), 4) Skip Away(ditto), 5) Silver Charm(gutsy as they come), 6) Lady's Secret(The Iron Lady), 7) Princess Rooney(as much praise as she gets, I still feel she's underrated), 8) Black Tie Affair(beat 2 Derby winners at 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs) 9) Winning Colors(Gary Stevens calls her SA Derby performance the best a horse has run for him) , 10) Cozzene(brilliant turf horse). · 464 days ago ·

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The Bid · race that SB broke the record in was the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita. He came back 4 weeks later at the same track and distance and ran 3 seconds slower. SB Derby time was 2:02.4 · 22 minutes ago · like 0 It was a Sloppy tarck that day. give me a break . 1 1/4 157 4/5 American and track record from Feb 3 1980, still stands today... · 464 days ago ·

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larooski · So the media made Secretariat? That's weak. I don't care how many times Secretariat lost, at his best he did things horses aren't supposed to be able to do. There have been horses with less than 4 losses. Does that make them better than SB? SB was not capable of doing the things that Secretariat did even at his best. Other horses have had walkovers too. That doesn't make them better. Secretariat set records in the Derby, Preakness(if the clock hadn't messed up) and Belmont. he broke the Belmont record by over 2 seconds. I'm pretty sure that's what made him a star. Lot's of horses have had perfect seasons. That doesn't make them better either.. · 464 days ago ·

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The Bid · it is all about opinions, I said media made more of what he was, and have some respect SB does not cut it, he was The Bid, no one comes close, good night · 464 days ago ·

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Floridaf · Great list, Matt! · 464 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · Safety pin, c,mon. They went after Secretariat's record and failed and used Ron Franklin as the scapegoat. see it fo yourself as Ron Turcotte's statement has never been refuted.-http://youtu.be/8RiPScCSTDc · 464 days ago ·

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AnnaK · Love them all, and love HorseRacingAnarchy in black and white. · 464 days ago ·

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footlick · as ChristineDix mentioned, Vigors should be on the list. · 464 days ago ·

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Capper · silver charm over skippy for sure. That's a good list, but Holy Bull would be in my top10 · 464 days ago ·

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LennyGeorge · If u go back far enough, not a champion, but really admired, was a horse called "Miche"...(Southenr Cal) He had a nickname..."The Grey Ghost" · 464 days ago ·

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cpsoren121 · This is the best blog ever. Love the grays!!! · 464 days ago ·

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driveon · Honorable mention to my personal favorite Runaway Groom. If you don't know who he is, go watch the 1982 Travers Stakes · 464 days ago ·

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Mary AliceKier · Absolutely head over hooves in love with grays and this super blog honoring them! · 464 days ago ·

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footlick · Really nice blog! · 464 days ago ·

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CarlaShoppe · Love Skip Away was the best Gray in my time too! I also put Skip Away as one of the top horses in my book. He didn't win any of the triple crown races but was one of the most loved horses in the racing world during his era. Truly a special horse with so many fan and new fans alike! · 463 days ago ·

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KyOaksRunner · I love that you included Winning Colors and made Native Dancer #1 over Spectacular Bid! · 463 days ago ·

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francis · Skippy was 1 of my all-time favorites, too. Back to the present, you neglected to mention 1 more thing Hansen & Creative Cause have in common; they're both descendants of Secretariat. · 463 days ago ·

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shadowno · Gato del Sol, Vigors, Silver Charm, Spectacular Bid, La Zanzara. · 463 days ago ·

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ОльгаПикалова · Думаю,что самой выдающейся серой лошадью был Native Dancer. · 462 days ago ·

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525984 · all these comments and no one sees the 1997 belmont winner is stated to be lemhi gold?? good thing that stronach can't read as his Touch Gold was the winner · 462 days ago ·

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Bluegrass · Nice article Matt... Glad to see you included Black Tie Affair. Two others to consider: Monarchos (2001 Kentucky Derby winner), and Bull InThe Heather (1993 Florida Derby winner). · 462 days ago ·

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GoTexas · Great reading! I too love the grays. Thanks for the blog! · 462 days ago ·

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travel_vic · All grey Thoroughbred horses trace back to the Alcock’s Arabian (b1700). · 462 days ago ·

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JohnBourke · most folks have forgotten Melair but she was a sensational gray also, · 462 days ago ·

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AnthonyAndrews · What a great list. I love reading about the great racing heroes of the past. Dancer' and "The Bid" are certainly deserving. Are there any horses missing from this list that you feel are deserving? · 462 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Melair had a very short time in the sun, but during that time, was a phenom · 461 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · A couple of my personal favorites that did not make the Top 10: Smoke Glacken and Candy Eclair. · 461 days ago ·

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DANCERS1FAN · Definitely NATIVE DANCER as #1 and The Bid #2!!!!! · 459 days ago ·

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larooski · I think Native Dancer and Ghostzapper are the two most underrated horses on the Top 250 all-time list · 459 days ago ·

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cocoa2 · Hardly, look at Tom Fool and Alydar! · 459 days ago ·

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yukichan · In honor of St. Patrick's Day, EL PRADO--a beast on the track, but he really left his mark as a sire of sires and broodmares. One of Sadler's Wells all-time best. · 459 days ago ·

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carrotlady · What about Evening Attire? A very popular, well-liked horse in NY for a long time and won lots of stakes races. · 459 days ago ·

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carrotlady · What about Evening Attire? A very popular, well-liked horse in NY for a long time and won lots of stakes races. · 459 days ago ·

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travel_vic · EA was a plodder but tried hard each outing · 459 days ago ·

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LennyGeorge · Anybody remember Miche ( The Grey Ghost) and Determined ??? · 37 days ago ·

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head_heart_hooves · The Tetrarch! · 37 days ago ·

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celio.ramirez · Native dancer still unbeaten the great of all for the boys and lady secret for the dams no question,thanks for the blog · 14 days ago ·

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1982 Champions: Landaluce & Princess Rooney

Thanks to a compelling article by Matt Scott, I began thinking about two of the greatest juvenile fillies of my lifetime, Landaluce and Princess Rooney. The pair, whom I consider to be, along with Ruffian, the best two-year-old fillies to hit an American racetrack in my 40 years of watching the game...Read More

Show All 7 Comments
AmbitiousD · Beautifully written, Brian. There is no way I could do them the justice that you did with this article. · 190 days ago ·

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darlene · great story about great fillies And of course one of the prime "if only" match ups you never got to see Oh what a race that would have been · 190 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · Brian, I was at the Princess Rooney Meadowlands race, also, and I, too, was a big fan. · 190 days ago ·

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Mike in SB · I was lucky enought to see Landaluce run in her last race at Santa Anita, one thing I remember about the race was how surprised the crowd was that she didn't win by 20 lengths, although as you said she never looked like she would be caught. I also got to see Princess Rooney run in California as a 4 year old, she doesn't seem to get the respect she deserves as one of the top fillies in the last 30 years. Her win in the Distaff was one of the most dominate in the history of the race. · 190 days ago ·

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cocoa2 · Colitis to be exact. One of a few fillies Lukas picked like Terlingua. Landaluce hated the whip, pincay hit her and she slowed down and batted down her ears. · 190 days ago ·

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marylandgq · This is a great horse racing history lesson for the younger fans of the sport. · 189 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Rooney just dominated the first BC Distaff. She was all alone at the end without another close. · 189 days ago ·

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Who are the Top Females of All Time?

The top females thoroughbreds are some of our favorite and most memorable. Zenyatta, Ruffian, Rachel Alexandra. Genuine Risk, Go For Wand and Personal Ensign. Twilight Tear, Gallorette and Regret. All time greats, every one of them. But who belongs in the top 10? Who belongs at the top? Jump on now ...Read More

Show All 170 Comments
BrittanyHamilton · Great more fighting about Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Both deserve no less than a 8. Ruffian deserves no less than a 10. . · 746 days ago ·

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saveidlewild · I agree with Brittany. Ruffian is the all time greatest filly. She was in the lead when she broke down. No one ever bested her. · 746 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · I'm OK with Ruffian at #1, and Zenyatta at #2, but Rachel is down at #16??? Looks like I have some voting to do! ;-) · 746 days ago ·

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diamondomi1 · Zenyatta, hands down. · 746 days ago ·

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mshutty · Beverly D' Angelo wasn't on the list so I am going to go with Goldikova, Zenyatta, Ruffian and Rachel Alexandra · 746 days ago ·

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zatt · Beverly D' Angelo ;-) You must be pushing 50, Mr. Shutty! · 746 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · I can personally make a case for about 20 who can sit in the top spot.This is a tough one.So many great ones. · 746 days ago ·

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IronMaidens · Kincsem went 54 races for 54 starts in four years throughout Europe and her record still stands. · 746 days ago ·

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EllyEllison · Ruffian was and still is number 1!! · 746 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · It probably will stand for a while. I'm just taking a wild guess.Since horses back then were owned only by royaly I would assume they were all good competetive races. · 746 days ago ·

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ArnoldHeino · have to go with rachel..she ran 11 races in less then a year and won them all ..and some against males who tried to not let her run · 746 days ago ·

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Thoroughbred44 · Really, why did they do this now while all this "who is best" was just starting to cool off? I don't get it. Oh well. I'm all for opinions, but as we have seen, this gets way out of hand. · 746 days ago ·

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KyOaksRunner · I'd have to say Rachel Alexandra but it feels a little unfair to Ruffian because she had her career cut short and was undefeated with so many records broken/set in her races. Goldikova ranks right up there as well and Go For Wand. · 746 days ago ·

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4everzenyatta · I love Zenyatta, Ruffian, Go for Wand I could not even choose a top one. Could we do a three-way tie? xD · 745 days ago ·

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girt · Black Caviar is one who could possibly top them all. She is almost in the class of Ruffian and Zenyatta. As of now, she is in the top five. · 745 days ago ·

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rohan2reed · Zenyatta shouldn't even be in the top 5. RA at #16 is laughable. just goes to show how uninformed Zenyatta's rabid and unsophisticated fanbase is. · 745 days ago ·

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dubby30 · 1000% agree with you there Rohan2reed. Overrated is the word. · 745 days ago ·

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timgsmith10 · The biggest JOKE is GOLDIKOVA at 21? WTF · 745 days ago ·

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Woodbinemile · How is Zarkava so far down the list?. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Zenyatta in the 1 hole??. Wow. To me Dance Smartly will always be my sentimental choice for favorite filly, but could not include her in the top 5, but to put Zenyatta a head of the Great Zarkava, Makybe Diva, Goldikova, and even the Great Black Caviar who gets NO respect because she is a sprinter. Zarkava's wins in the Arc, and Prix Vermeille at 1m 1/2 , or Makybe Diva's 3 straight Melbourne cups at 2 Miles, and her win in the 10.2 furlong Cox Plate was FAR more impressive then either of Zenyatta's BC wins. No Contest · 745 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · I think were awake and able to make a choice,Zenyatta is mine.Quite frankly I would definately put her somewhere in the top 30 all time best horses.yeah she was that good.Joe Louis fought a lot of tomato cans so why can't she pick when she wants to run for the championship. · 745 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · Woodbinemil: Sea the Stars rated the best horse in the world in 2009 didn't show up for the $5 million BCC.You think he was afraid of Summer Bird? Gio Ponti? and that surface was just right for him which was proven by the performance of Ravens Pas and Henryy The Navigator.If your going to belittle others you should have just a more knowledge than those you are referring to. · 745 days ago ·

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TimSmith · Zenyatta is the most Overrated horse in the History of racing. Thats for sure. · 744 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · If she is so overated why didn't Sea the Stars a horse who was claimed to be better than Secretariat pass up the $3 million BCC? Maybe they thought instead of Gio Ponti losing it would be them! · 744 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · the $3 million was the winners share which represented 75% of his life earnings for 2 years.Early retirement my @ss he took a pass on facing Z.She has that same style ,kick,and closing speed of Buckpasser and he wasn't bad as horses go. · 744 days ago ·

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skipaway2000 · Poor Busher & Twilight Tear - great fillies who have no votes so far. Busher was probably War Admiral's greatest daughter, winning 15 of 21 starts vs females & males. Twilight Tear was one of Calumet's greats, 18 for 24 in her career, HOTY in 1944, Hall of Famer. · 744 days ago ·

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Thoroughbred44 · Exactly! It's basically a competition between Goldi, Rachel, Zenyatta, and Ruffian. No other horse is even considered basically. · 744 days ago ·

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timgsmith10 · So you are saying Sea the Stars ducked Zenyatta. What kind of Glue are you sniffing. Zenyatta had maybe 2-4 tough races her whole career. She was pretty good but honestly way way Overrated · 744 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · timgsmith10:I'm not sniffing anything but BS here...Where was he when this one win equaled 75% of his lifetime earnings...don't just rattle something off actually think about it. · 744 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · timgsmith10 you're entitled to your opinion just as I am mine.Actually I am a huge fan of RA, I live on the east coast so where is my bias.She (Z) covers as much ground in that last 1/4 mile as good as any horse I've seen without exception,and yes I've seen Secretariat on for occassions two of which were clean losses one against tomato can the other against a horse who on that day would have beaten anyone. · 744 days ago ·

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TimSmith · Why wouldnt Zenyatta go to Dubai for 10 Million then? Was she ducking? There is no debate about her campaigns they were conservative and selected. She never was pushed and really in 2 Tough races she is 1/2. · 743 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · tim you made the statement "Zenyatta is the most overrated horse ever" I can say that Blame one of the great closers of all time who closed on the outside at Saratoga against the track bias to beat Quality Road among others is the most underrated · 743 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · here are my top 4 females in no particular order Busher,Ruffian,Zenyatta,Rachel.Just another opinion among many...have a nice day · 743 days ago ·

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TimSmith · To overestimate the merits of; rate too highly ..Over rated by definition. Which in my opinion defines Zenyattaa · 743 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · your certainly entitled to that as is everyone else,makes racing nice to talk about. · 743 days ago ·

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dubby30 · Here is the problem, when you compare her to the top horses that ran in america in the last 10 years. the Curlin's, Ghostzappers, Rachel Alexandra's Roses in May and Invasor's, their records and resumes are full of Grade 1 after Grade 1 races that mean something on the national stage. Zenyatta's is full of mediocre regional races that very few people respect. You give me Curlin's SFoster, Woodward, 2 JCGC, DWC and BCC compared to Zenyatta's 3 Vanitys, 3 lady's Secrets and 1BCC and BCLC anyday. you give me Invasor's Suburban, Pim Special, BCC, DWC, Donn and Whitney or Rachel's Oaks, Mother Goose, Haskell, Woodward and Preakness over the same weak races that Zenyatta was asked to run in against optional claimers over and over again. Yes all props and respect for running in 3 BC's but when everything about your schedule is set up to be easy all year long till the BC you should run well, map out this schedule for her in 2010, Apple Blossom, Santa Anita Handicap, Vanity, Pacific Classic, prep on dirt in the Personal Ensign or Whitney and then go to the Beldame or JCGC and then see what its like to get her to the BC. The Point being, she's over rated because she was incapable of a schedule of this nature. Common sense says a horse is not sharp working 6f in 1:15, that means you're doing just enough to beat well optional claimers, come into a Grade 1 race off a 6f 1:15 work and she finishes dead last. Thats what alot of people dont get, this was not magnificent managing of the horse it was taking the easy way out because she could not keep Grade 1 form over a lenghty period of time. · 743 days ago ·

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noe courts · I think Gallorette, Regret, Twilight Tear, and Top Flight were some of the best ever. But Ruffian is number 1 · 743 days ago ·

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noe courts · I did not see Imp in the top 20 whats up with that ? · 743 days ago ·

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ShayStenchever · How can someone say Zenyatta is overrated, and Ruffian and Blame are super stars? Yes, they all are, but you cant say that about the two and not about Zenyatta. The reason is simple. Ruffian is overrated because she broke her leg in a race. Our culture LIVES to glrify anything that dies in the name of the sport. Take Barbaro for example. He was an ok horse who got lucky in the Derby, then broke his leg. So now we treat him like some sort of perfect, god horse. Ruffian had a lot of stamina, but she never raced any GOOD horses that would hav epushed her. Even the "great match race" was with a single male. One male who had lost several races and only picked up one leg of the triple crown. She couldnt match his speed and broke her leg. The same could be said for Barbaro. So just because they had a couple fine runs against terrible horses and then broke their legs, doesnt mean theyre the golden horse of horse racing. You have to look at real acheevments. Blame was raced what, three times? So we dont even know how good he could have been. Not to mention if you watch the video of the BCC, Zenyatta passed him just after the finish line. Her late finish was in no way her fault. In my opinion, she won that race. The horses she ran against were good horses and in my opinion, she belongs at the top and Ruffian and Blame belong somewhere in the middle, under such horses as Lady's Secret, Secretariat, Native Dancer, Sunday Silence, Shuvee, Twilight Tear, and Open Mind. And thats all I have to say on the issue. · 739 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · ShayStenchever_ I disagree,Ruffian was one of the great ones,and Foolish Pleasure the horse you so casually refer to as ordinary is ranked in the top 100 alltime horses by bloodhorse magazine.Lastly Secretariat was in a class by himself,no other horse has ever done what he did. · 739 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · Ruffian raced massive competetion! she always set new stakes records, and beat all of big reds 2 yr old records! Ruffian was majorly famous before the match race! why do you think out of a 20million tv audience and a 51000 grandstand audience that Ruffian was the favourite to win! Ruffian couldnt match his speed? Ruffian was running him by over half a length! couldnt match his speed when she was beating him! and one of the biggest differences between the 2 was 2-3 seconds! Ruffian set new track and stakes records at 4 different tracks, and you call her overrated? Many say she was even better then Secretariat! even his trainer said she may even be better then him after she won the acorn! · 738 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · Rating Rachel Alexandra AND Ruffian a 1 just shows how little you know about horse racing! · 738 days ago ·

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Thoroughbred44 · I'm sorta confused... I'm not saying that I don't think Ruffian was a great filly because she was, but what I don't get is why some Ruffian fans trash Zenyatta when Zenyatta has more consecutive wins (I know Ruffian breaking her sesamoids was out of her control) but Zenyatta is a so-called "claimer". I know Ruffian made track records, but if Zenyatta were to have broken her leg, would you call her the greatest of all time and respect her? · 738 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · Ruffian was called the greatest filly of all time after she won the Acorn, and the greatest female of all time after she won the filly triple crown setting new stakes records for everyone of them. She was called the greatest long before she broke down, many called her the best they had ever seen, after they watched her maiden, because no horse has ever won their maiden by 15 lengths and in record shattering time, infact no horse has ever won a 5 1/2 furlong race by even 10 lengths · 738 days ago ·

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BrianBradley · Ruffian won 10 straight races. She won from 5 1/2 furlongs to a 1 mile and a half. She tied, or broke 9 track or stakes records. SHE NEVER TRAILED A RACE AFTER A 1/8 MILE OUT OF THE GATE. THAT IS GREATNESS. You can talk about how Zenyatta came from far back, but, Ruffian never looked back after a 1/8 mile. She was poetry in motion. SHE WAS AWESOME!!!! You'll never know how sad it was, when she broke down in that match race. She was elegance in motion. · 738 days ago ·

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4everZenyatta · RUffian was an amazing filly, my grandmother was actually at the Great Match race with my grandfather. I can only imagine what it was like for her. · 734 days ago ·

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GooberNation · Ruffian for sure.. Z was good.. but no track records.. I dont think.. lol · 723 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Can we please get over this myth about Ruffian and her track records. For the "record" Ruffian never broke any track records. She equalled the same five and a half furlong mark at Belmont Park twice. That's it. Ruffian ran just three races over a mile and lost one of those races. Ruffian beat the winners of 3 Grade 1 races and raced 10 of her 11 races in New York and vanned down the turnpike to Monmouth Park for the only other time she left the state. Ruffian carried anywhere from 118 lbs. to 122 lbs. , raced on New York surfaces that established seven track records in two short years, and never faced any quality competition. That said, and BEING A NEW YORKER, Ruffian was a very fast horse, but Ruffian is certainly not the greatest female racehorse of all time. Oh, please. · 721 days ago ·

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Thead'or · ^Excuse the filly for killing herself in that race. Zenyatta never ran at 1 1/2, she certainly didn't get the fastest time of any dirt female to race at that distance. Zenyatta left her the comfort of the Californian tracks maybe 4 times. That's it. · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Not talking about Zenyatta. Just the facts about Ruffian. · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Tale of the Tape: · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Tale of the Tape: · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · World Records: · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · World Records: · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · World Records: Zenyatta 1, Ruffian 0...North American Records: Zenyatta 3, Ruffian 0...Track Records: Zenyatta 1, Ruffian 0...Winners of Eclipse Awards beaten or finished ahead of: Zenyatta 7, Ruffian 0...Winners of Grade 1 races beaten: Zenyatta 69, Ruffian 3...Graded Stakes Male racehorses beaten or finished ahead of: Zenyatta 19, Ruffian 0...Grade 1 Races won: Zenyatta 13, Ruffian 5...Grade 1 Races won in a row: Zenyatta 8, Ruffian 3. Most weight carried: Zenyatta 129 lbs. (twice), Ruffian 122 lbs....Most races won in a row: Zenyatta 19, Ruffian 10. Need I say more? · 721 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · zenyatta holds no world records! · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Most Grade 1/Group 1 wins in a row (8). Rock of Gilbraltar had previously held the record. · 721 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · New York Vinnie, you go so far as to criticize Ruffian, and the track bias that resulted in 7 track records, and then you laud Zenyetta for setting a track record. Santa Anita had one world record for 6 furlongs that was posted by a claimer. And why would Santa Anita be host of 2 consecutive BC's, having a freshly laid "rug" called ProRide inserted, only to pull it up after the BC's, and return to dirt? And, why is it that California decided to go to synthetic, and have four different surfaces laid at the four tracks that use synthetic? I stand by Bay Meadows, who closed their track in defiance of the state commission that tried to force them to go to synthetic. · 721 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · ruffian75, thanks for reminding me about the different types of surfaces won on: Zenyatta 5 (4 syn./1 dirt) Ruffian 1. · 720 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · Np problem, NY Vinnie. How many wins did Zenyatta have at age 3 1/2, vs. Ruffian? It's nice to compare a mare to a 3 1/2 yr old filly. And,back in 1974 and 1975, there weren't as many Graded races as there are now. So, I think the comparison of running against Graded competition kinda loses its luster. But, thanks for all the trivial data. You know, if the synthetic surfaces ever are discarded(like Santa Anita), then they'll have to do the Roger Maris asterisk. · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · ruffian75-you may have to wait for a while for the synthetics to go away. I count 26 racecourses around the world still having it with only two changing. They would include Keeneland, Turfway, Arlington, Hollywood Park, Del Mar among others. · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Again, for the sake of keeping to the facts, Ruffian faced just one multiple · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Excuse me...faced just one multiple Grade 1 winning horse and lost. Just go down the list of her races at the bottom of this page. On April 25 she raced in allowance race carrying 109 lbs. after she had won two Grade 1 races. What's with that? And wins the race in 1:09 and change. Just look at whom she's beaten. I count only Hot N Nasty and Laughing Bridge worth mentioning. · 720 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · NYV, Do you count the match race as a loss by Ruffian? I could begin to understand that view if she had finished the race uninjured. · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · You can throw out the match race or you can count it. If you count it Ruffian lost her only race against a multiple Grade 1 winning horse. I prefer to not count the match race considering the tragic events surrounding it. Ruffian - fast horse, but never tested (competition or weights). · 720 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · NYV, I'm not innocent of never contradicting myself, but you are saying at one thread that Ruffian "lost" the match race in which she was injured and did not finish, at at another thread you say you prefer not to count it. Either choose one point of view or post each at both threads, if you would. · 720 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · NYV - Sticking to the facts: Zenyetta - 2-for-3 on dirt(66.7% Win Pct); Ruffian - 10-for-10(or 11, if you want to count the match race; 100%, or 90.9% Win Pct.). Priceless. As for the synthetics going away any time soon, you're probably right, since Keeneland owns the right to the Polytrack surface. They'll be the last to bail. There are only two Tapeta tracks(Golden Gate and Presque Isle Downs) and one Cushion track(Hollywood). All the rest are Polytrack(Arlington, Del Mar, Keeneland, Turfway, and Woodbine). They compose less than 10% of all the tracks in the country, and yet Zenyetta ran 85% of her races on synthetic. · 720 days ago ·

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dubby30 · Those right there are some facts from Ruffian75, high five. What was Ruffian's record on Synthetics. Oh werent around then, only in the last few years when computers have been crushing and squeezing rubber bands and tires and kitty litter together to call it a horse racing surface. · 720 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · ruffian75-Zenyatta's loss was one of the best performances I have ever seen by any horse and has nothing to do with Ruffian who along eight bells,Danzig and many others who broke down was inbred to Native Dancer 4 times and the breakdown of eight bells was predicted before the race by a geneticist who also advises on breeding.If you wan't a semi independant opinion I would suggest putting the question of Native Dancer inbreds to Iron Maidens who is a member here and an expert on breeding.Now that I've made the suggestion I'm going to do that as her opinion carries more weight on the subject than laymen like us.I watched that match race on television and when Ruffian went down I almost vomitted.It was one of the most sickening things I have ever seen and I can still picture it clearly in my mind along with the sadness of remembering.Ruffian had more speed than any horse I have ever seen live or TV.This was also the second time she had trouble with a fracture.As a 2yo she got a fracture in the stretch and still won going away.Getting back to the second one that was so gruesome to watch because she kept trying to run even with a compound break.All heart · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Mary - go ahead and let's throw out the match race. That leaves Ruffian having never raced a multiple Grade 1 winning racehorse. Now compare that with Zenyatta, whom faced and defeated somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 muliple Grade 1 winning racehorses, of both sexes. That's what you call being tested. · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · ruffian75-sorry but it isn't about racing surfaces. · 720 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · NYV, You can choose whichever female you want as your top all-time. Mine is Ruffian. i'd just like to ask you, since Ruffian raced 3 months at age two and three months at age 3, what would you have liked her to have done to please you? And, I just checked, I have two eyes in my head and I know what I saw. · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Mary - Ruffian gave us what she gave in her short-lived life. Much like Landaluce. Like I said before she was a fast horse, ran the races she ran. It's all history now and not about me. But I will interpret facts as facts. Nothing more, nothing less. · 720 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · Thanks for your kudos, dubby30. icyhotboo, it was an awesome kick to just fall short. Did you get any inspiration from Mine That Bird coming from last-to-first? That was pretty awesome watching the overhead view of Borel weaving him thru traffic. But, Mine That Bird was kinda like Arcangues. The day he was in midstretch on the way to the Derby finish line, I was looking back at my Racing Form, wondering what I could have possibly missed. My most inspirational race was Go For Wand running with so much heart, to the point that it would be her demise. She had the lead the entire race, and when Bayakoa came up to her, she dug back in, and didn't want to give up the lead. And, Mary, I agree with you. She will be forever remembered by me. · 720 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · It was an awsome permormance. As far as viewing it strictly as a fan as far back as she was and almost running down a great closer like Blame who ran down Quality Road at 1 1/8 mile at Saratoga.I don't think Blame gets enough credit for being as good as he was or Zenyatta closing on a great closer in his own right.What made the race special was the freezing conditions it was run under causing all the horses in the race to go much slower than they normally would.As far as inspirational there were a lot of them.Defeat happens to everyone but it doesn't have to diminish an acomplishment,look at Alydar those were three great races he lost.Curlin in his prime battling Rags to Riches the length of the stretch at Belmont etc. · 720 days ago ·

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timgsmith10 · Landulace sure didnt run a mile and a half in 227.. NYV You cant really knock Ruffian she was fast as hell and a winning record breaking horse from sprints to mile and half? · 720 days ago ·

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TheSecondBigRed · Twilight Tear sure was incredible. · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · timgsmith - for the umteenth time, yes - Ruffian was a fast horse, but absolutely not the greatest female racehorse. Ruffian was never tested. Ruffian's weight she carried include the following: 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 113, 122, 121,121,121 & 121. Some of Ruffian's winning times include a 1:09 for six furlongs and a 1:09.4 for another six furlongs. You make mention of Ruffian's time of 1:21.2 in the · 720 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Excuse me..Grade 3 Comely carrying 113 lbs. Switch, on the other hand, won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes in 1:20.3 for seven furlongs and again won the Grade 1 Santa Monica for the same distance in 1:20.4. · 720 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · Just saying, I don't try to define Ruffian or Zenyatta by their equibase stats. Switch is nice at 7f., and I was surprised that she was second in the Vanity, but you could not be comparing her to Ruffian or saying that she is the better filly. · 720 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · New York Vinnie I think we both know SA is 2 seconds faster the great majority of tracks.Reminds me of Hollywood before the synthetics. · 719 days ago ·

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dubby30 · I guess the problem that causes things to be put into perspective for her most adament fans is that Zenyatta got the perfect pace scenerio to run into, wicked fast fractions, and she had a target that she was 2 lengths behind turning for home and she couldnt get the job done on the biggest of stages. Goldikova on the other hand handled her business that day in professional fashion, just out for a stroll, and Blame as great a races as he ran would never be considered in the top 30 of horses that ran in the past decade. That says it all, everything set up for her as it did in 2009, she swung wide, started her move and didnt have enough to hold him off. How would she have matched up in other renditions of the Classic, unfortunately we'll never know, how would she have matched up in the other top races for the top horses in the world. we wont know because her connections felt it more important to continue to rack up G1 wins over optional claimers than to step up and face the very best available in the U S a couple of times per year. So we're left with these what ifs, what if Zen was asked to run off 2 weeks rest, what if she had run in 1 race of significance from jan-oct, what if she had prepped on dirt. It doesnt matter, what does matter is she ran in 3 races of significance and was 2/3 66% win percentage, what matters is she has 0 wins in g1 company on dirt and 0 wins outside of two states Cali and AR. That is a problem for me when trying to elevate her above a horse that was proven over and over again. · 719 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · dubby,are you saying in essence it makes no difference even if she won by 8 inches the she is still a mediocre horse because you don't consider Blame a worthy opponent.Conclusion,win or lose you would have found a way to discredit her.Dubby30 while I understand your arguement as to her racing schedule I don't understand that you don't understand we was a very bad shipper and an extremely nervous horse so they did what was in her interest unlike the owners of RA who let that monster ride her repeatly.here's a thought that just popped in,just suppose RA figured the only way to get this guy off my back is to keep losing and did. · 719 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · dubby30 - I started to read the first couple of paragraphs and realized that someone could easily insert the name of Man O' War with his race with Upset, or Native Dancer with his race with Dark Star, or Secretariat with his race with Onion. dubby30, are you angry that Zenyatta was not the perfect racehorse or are you still jealousy that Zenyatta surpassed Rachel Alexandra in everything? · 719 days ago ·

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girt · Kincsem and Ruffian, end of story! · 719 days ago ·

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girt · Kincsem and Ruffian, end of story! · 719 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · icyhotboo - "while I understand your argument as to her (Zenyatta) racing schedule" - Don't you mean Ruffian facing only three Grade 1 winners, winning an allowance race carrying 109 lbs. after winning two Grade 1 races, racing in a Grade 3 after the allowance race, never carrying more than 121 lbs., and refusing to travel out of the area for a race. Dudes, please. You can't have it both ways. If you have a problem with Zenyatta's propensity to destroy multiple Grade 1 winning, Eclipse Award Champions on a regular basis, then by all means please recognize the pathetic overmatched bunch that Ruffian bullied repeatedly in New York. Please don't be hypocritical, the facts bear this out. · 719 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · she was put in the allowence after coming back from a fractured back leg, excuse whiteley for not wanting to push her! · 719 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · RQoR - perhaps trainer Whiteley, Jr. shouldn't have brought Ruffian back to run at all. or at least the match race as I have earlier mentioned several times. That said, it still doesn't change the fact that Ruffian was never tested. Just look at the horses she ran against as well as the weight carried. Like my earlier reponse to icyhotboo and others is if you hold judgment to one horse you must use the same standard to the other. No double standards. · 719 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · It was not a match race when Ruffian entered you idiot! It had Foolish Pleasure, Master Derby, Avatar and Ruffian in the race, but Avatar dropped out, and Master Derby was payed out, and by then there was too much pressure for Ruffian not to race, whiteley tried to get her out of it but the public and racing association wouldnt allow it! She was in the lead and drawing away, or could you not see that? are you blind? She did not crakc under the pressure, if pressure was a problem for her, then why did she not crack when hot n nasty stuck with her the entire race? Ruffian had a pooped splint in that race and still she did not crack under the pressure and she won, and she kept running after her sesamoids exploded despite jacinto trying hard to pull her up!! That is a champion, Ruffian tested herself in her races, weight carrying doesnt matter, look at black caviar, the #1 horse, who carries hardly any, and still no one holds that against her, most sprinters have trouble touching Ruffians records, frankel barely does, and black caviar has, and she carries less weight then Ruffian did, her fashion, astoria soritity, spinaway, comely, acorn and oaks records are still un touched, and the allowence was the caltha purse... If you say she ran against weak competiton then name any other fillies that raced in that time that she coujld have faced other then the ones she already did!! NONE because none were as good as her! She won champ 2 and 3 year old, she won the filly triple crown which is just as hard as the colts, and look how many have won the colts and fillies crown since the 70s! Ruffian may have raced against not so tough horses but she set new stakes records in all of her stakes races and was under a hand ride in all but one of them, which she was only whipped 3 times! people say she is overreated because she didnt leave her back yard when niether did zenyatta! · 719 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · and to rate Ruffian a 1 just shows how pathetic you are and how little you know about horse racing, which comes to the point where all of your points are just a fans way to make zenyatta look better, so run along now · 719 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · and zenyatta only raced 3 distances over 1 mile too! and lost at one of 2 races at one distance! · 719 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · zenyatta only raced at 4 different distances where as ruffian raced at 6 different distances! · 719 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · RQo · 718 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · RQoR - you really shouldn't being here if you can't engage in an mature, informative discussion. But for your sake and others I'll help you out. Maybe you can learn something. First, take a long look at John Shirreffs, Zenyatta's trainer. He learned to say no. He also paid the price for this just by reading some of these blogs. Just say "no". Second, Zenyatta raced 19 times past a mile, which is 16 times more than Ruffian. Sorry, but most of the races offered for classic distance horses are from 1 and a sixteenth to a mile and an eighth to a mile and a quarter. Did you want Zenyatta to pull up at the quarter pole in a mile and an quarter race just so she could claim she ran a mile and a three-sixteenths race? Please, try something other. Perhaps I can leave you with a couple of quotes from other New York based trainers. First one is from Allen Jerkens, the legendary Hall of Fame trainer. He told John Shirreffs that he'd manny of the 'greats' run like Secretariat and Citation and Zenyatta was just as good as them. No mention of Ruffian. Another is from John Nerud, the Hall of Fame trainer of Dr. Fager and Ta Wee. He said this about Zenyatta..."She's the greatest female racehorse I've ever seen." These are from men that had both witnessed Ruffian and Zenyatta. · 718 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · RuffianQueenOfRacing AND New York Vinnie, 1. RQOR, You are completely correct in your facts. NYV, anyone who would give 1 star on the already silly, just for fun ratings system, instead of just NOT rating Ruffian has ZERO credibility. You never saw her run, or you have no memory retention, or you are in serious need of an eye doctor and have been for years. RQOR's views on Ruffian: 10; NYV's credibility about THIS subject: 0. NYV, don't even. Don't make the attempt. But you will. A one? For what? You don't even know who she was. · 718 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · mrsmary - Sorry, but I did see Ruffian run. I actually made money on the match race knowing how stupid it was...going against a battle tested and Grade 1 winning male racehorse. It was perhaps the only time I really didn't even want to cash the ticket knowing the results now. Yes, as I told you before, I really don't know where to put Ruffian since she really was tested so I gave her a 1. On the other hand anyone, as I have said repeatedly here, that believe that Ruffian is the greatest female racehorse of all time is either blind to the facts or emotionally driven by Ruffian tragic death. Or both. Or it could be the anger and jealousy exhibited by others that will not see that Zenyatta is the greatast female racehorse of all time. Facts bear this out. · 718 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · Mrsmary - I actually had Ruffian to win the day she won the Sorority. I knew that California speed ball called Hot N Nasty was a good horse but it was mistake to fly her all the way in from LA and take on Ruffian in the humid sweltering heat of New Jersey. That California wasn't used to heat like that but I was impressed by the race Hot N Nasty put on. If I remember correctly this California horse came up to about a half length behind Ruffian going around the far turn but then the heat and humidity took over and lost by only 2 lengths or so. I was impressed by this Californian horse. · 718 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · No, NYV, I'm not swayed by her tragic death in making my decision about not putting another female race horse above Ruffian. Yes, I do understand the facts. No, I won't back down. Try to convince someone else to agree with your views if it's that important to you. I have current stakes races to watch. See ya. You do know that Ruffian had a hairline fracture in that race you just mentioned? Just sayin'. Oh yah, your "You're a girl, so I know you must have cried". crap doesn't fly with me. But nice try.a · 718 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · Oh, now you will gloat, Vin, I see you claim to have left NY to go to the Sorority, not the Spinaway. Whatever, You still haven't and never will convince me to change my mind, because I'm right about Ruffian. I'm surprised you'd leave NY, especially not lovely Buffalo. · 718 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · zenyatta may have WON 19 times over a mile but she only raced at 4 distances, unless you exclude the 6 1/2 furlong race, meaning she too, only raced at 3 distances over 1 mile, meaning she only raced at 4 different distances where as Ruffian raced at 6 different distances, and a mile and 2 over, NYV YOU are the one stupid enough to rant on about how Ruffian only raced at 3 distances over a mile and zenyatta only raced at 3 distances over a mile too! like i said, Ruffian raced at 6 different distances, zenyatta only 4! now as you would say, HOWS THAT FOR COMPARISON!? · 718 days ago ·

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medlocke · My top 5 American fillies or mares are: #1-Zenyatta #2-Ruffian #3-Personal Ensign #4-Genuine Risk and #5-Go For Wand. That's how I personally rank my top 5, but I have no doubt I'd have plenty of people that would disagree? That's why I say it's merely the way I rank them. Only my own opinion!! · 718 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · mrsmary - there are plenty of New Yorkers, such as myself, that appreciates racing from other parts of the country. Remember Bobby Frankel? · 718 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · RQoR - I still don't get your point about the 4 distants. Did you want Zenyatta to forgo one of her Grade 1 races at a mile and an eighth and instead run in some Grade 3 mile race. Opps, that's what Ruffian did. · 718 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · OH so you MUST be blind! Ruffians mile races were all G1 and were the filly triple crown, which is just as hard as the colts, and Ruffian won the crown easily! Like is said you were the one stupid enough to go on about distances when you were to stupid to realise that zenyatta raced at fewer distances and that same over a mile as Ruffian, not my fault you were too stupid to check the FACTS which you rant on about before you decided you were gona make an idiot out of yourself! · 718 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · RQoR - I'll be kind but honest. You are a piece of work. Ruffian ran three races over a mile and lost one those races. Ruffian also ran in two Grade 1 races that were six furlongs because she was a two year old filly. If you want to make out that a horse that wins two Grade 1 races at six furlongs as two year old and just wins two more races past a mile as a three year old in what really amounts to public paid workouts against horses that were nothing in the first place then you're just kidding yourself. Sorry, but the facts bear that out. · 717 days ago ·

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TheSecondBigRed · This shouldn't be titled "Who ae the Top Females of All Time?". Instead they should've named it "How Much Everyone Can Fight". · 717 days ago ·

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timgsmith10 · New york Vinnie.....You Rate Ruffian a 1? You are a joke. · 717 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · NYVinnie, You say you prefer not to count the match race, but then you do. Who do you think you will convince to think as you do? It's getting very close to the anniversary of her death, so let's see if the disrespect, because that's what it is, continues, even on that day. I would bet on it. Sad. · 717 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · mrsmary - that's because RQoR is trying use the number of races Ruffian ran beyond a mile. Like I said I perfer to throw it out. · 717 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · timgsmith - you got it backwards. It's the people that rate Ruffian the greatest female racehorse of alltime despite defeated a grand total of 3 winners of Grade 1 races, carrying weight that included 116 lbs., 117 lbs., 118 lbs., 119 lbs., 113 lbs., 122 lbs., and 121 lbs. that last four races, and racing only 3 races - opps, excuse me 2 races beyond a mile is a joke. I listed Zenyatta easily as the greatest female racehorse of all time. Then you would have to look at Azeri, Personal Ensign, Lady's Secret, Goldikova well before Ruffian based on what they've accomplished and defeated. Sorry, but the facts bear that out. · 717 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · NYVin, How many more races over a mile should Ruffian have run won during the 3 months she raced as a 3yo? How many more precious little stars are you willing to dole out, oh generous one? Please hit "like" at the RQOR fan club site, thanks. · 717 days ago ·

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timgsmith10 · You could say the same crap about Zenyatta and her weak campaigns as well. · 717 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · Ouch! Maybe I should just stick to one fan club so as not to upset my favorite? · 717 days ago ·

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KatieClarke · a website for who? and is it real? · 717 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · KatieClarke, No, there is not really a fan club for all my strays from another horse racing website. Actually, I think the pound took one of them. Anyway, it was just my dark humor. disregard. · 717 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · Gee Katie, You just joined up to ask me that question? How nice. Good luck at the races. · 717 days ago ·

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KatieClarke · no, I am using my facebook account · 717 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · mrsmary - again, you can't re-write history. What is done is done. Just don't take what she (Ruffian) has done and expand it beyond measures. Ruffian was a fast - yes. But certainly not the greatest female racehorse of all time. · 717 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · timgsmith - it's not crap. Just the facts. Yes, Zenyatta had races against weak competition. The facts are there. Just like Citation and Spectacular Bid running against themselves. Or Cigar running against "non-winners of 2 allowance races". But Zenyatta also had the records of beating or finishing ahead of the winners of 69 Grade 1 races and 7 Eclipse Award Champions. · 717 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · ViN, I'm not expanding anything, about Ruffian that is. She is my pick for top female. Never going to change. You'll have to out-live me or when my other haunt gets interesting again, you'll be rid of me. · 717 days ago ·

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4everZenyatta · Ha, VInnie don't even bother paying attention to timgsmith's agruments. Their focus in life is obviously to tear Zenyatta down, no matter what, but ignore them, they don't deserve your energy ;) · 716 days ago ·

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TimSmith · How can you rate Ruffian a 1 and still be talking? You have no credibility with that. Its obvious you are emotional. I dont like picking on Zenyatta because she was a great horse. I just think her managers really werent aggresive enough with her and kind of ruined her legend. · 716 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · 4everZenyatta, So it's okay for Vin here to tear down Ruffian (P.S. Vin it's nearly anniversary time), but it's not okay for Tim to be honest? Hmmm. · 716 days ago ·

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GooberNation · thats becuase people are babies when it comes to others expressing their own opinions.. thats a liberal for ya LOL ;) everyone will express theirs but a true sport will accept others opinion like its their own · 716 days ago ·

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jmcleav · Zenyatta's closing style is quite difficult to stay out of trouble, the pace in the race is not always in her favor, and don't fool yourself into thinking the game plan of other jocks and trainers was to take her down. It was her heart that made Zenyatta the champion she always will be remembered as. I'm no expert but I know when a champion brings tears to my eyes. · 716 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · mrsmary - I'm sorry if you think I was "tearing down" Ruffian. I was just bringing out the facts. I've said the same things several times here. Yes, Ruffian was a fast horse. No, Ruffian was not the greatest female racehorse of all time. Yes, the match race should of never taken place. Yes, Ruffian was never tested. That's it. · 716 days ago ·

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timgsmith10 · In your opinion.. · 716 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · goobernation - people are entitle to their own opinion. I agree. But opinions are like rear ends. · 716 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · ...excuse me..."Everyone's got one". It's the facts that I'm after. · 716 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · I'm not dead yet, Vin. I'm going by the facts. i saw Ruffian's races. Somehow, you looked at them, but didn't see what I saw. i do so wish my strays would just go ahead and come home. That was to them, not you, Vin. · 716 days ago ·

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4everzenyatta · Ah, but mrsmaryzinke, there is quite a difference between telling the truth and being full out rude. Part of me agrees with Vinnie, because Ruffian never did face the boy except in the Match, and before that she did exactly what you all are bashing Zenyatta for. I am not saying Ruffian wasn't a wonderful filly, because tehre is no deny that she was. But she never got to prove herself. Breaking records agains claimers and low grade stakes winners is not a very large feat. I love Ruffian, but I do believe that she doesn't deserve any more credit than Zenyatta does. I know I'm going to get torn apart for that comment, but that is my opinion and truly, you people can suck it. I don't care for any argument you make, I with all ym heart believe that Zenyatta is one of the greatest racehorses of all time, and your petty judgements really will not change that. All that your posts bashing me will do is make me laugh, because all you people are doing is making fools of yourselves. In case you cared ;) · 715 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · 4ever, Girl, I have been to see the Queen in person-quite a story-at least for me anyway. Stock in Kleenex has to have gone up just from my usage of their tissues when reading her diary entries. I had my near heart-attack moments during many of her thrilling finishes of her races. How gorgeous she is. However, I don't rank any other female above Ruffian. I haven't seen one that I thought was better than her. Now, today is the anniversary of the match race, so I know you weren't trying to be full out rude by telling people to go suck it. Why would I bash you? You just said there was a difference between the truth and rudeness. Then, the "suck it" comment. You just bashed yourself. · 715 days ago ·

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4everzenyatta · I know that 'suck it' thing was out of line, I haven't been ahving the greatest day and had to blow off some steam, but truly, I do believe that Zenyatta and Ruffian really should rank the same, they are both amazing mares and deserve credit. Neither of them deserve 1s, they don't even deserve below 8s. · 715 days ago ·

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TheSecondBigRed · It's quite honestly amusing to read these comments, just to see how rude some people on here are. · 715 days ago ·

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icyhotboo · Watched Ruffian lope along in 2:27:4/5 on you-tube at 1 1/2 mile.Some of the top male 3yos never hit that speed all out.No matter who is actually "the best" the horses who have thrilled me in no particular order,Ruffian,Zenyatta,Rachel (my personal favorite) Genuine Risk,Personal Ensign,and many more who are to numerous to mention.Was a nice discussion as evidenced by the emotions. · 715 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · sad correction: the anniversary of the match race is tomorrow · 715 days ago ·

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cocoa2 · You've forgotten Landaluce. · 507 days ago ·

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New York Vinnie · cocoa2 - many will never forget Landaluce. Me included. She was a sweet, black coated two year old filly out of Seattle Slew that captivated the west, having won five races by almost 50 lengths. She won her first race in 1:08 then came back a week later and won a Grade 1 race by 21 lengths in 1:08:1. Her last three races as a two year included race run in 1:21, 1:35 and 1:41. Uncle Mo, on the other hand, ran a 1:34.6 and and 1:42 in a mile and a mile and a sixteenth, and was considered the second coming of Spectacular Bid and Seattle Slew. Landaluce will never be forgotten. · 502 days ago ·

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MarcelloMarocco · First off....All along is the BEST filly ever. Second NOBODY put down a 3 year old campaign the way Dance Smartly did · 233 days ago ·

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gdansk · Melair. Not the greatest but I saw her and she was a beauty AND undefeated. · 233 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Fahion 36 32-0-0 Kincsem 54 54-0-0 Cicada 42 23-8-6 Firenze 82 47-21-9 Genine Risk 10-3-2 Gallorette 72 21-20-13 Lady's Secret 45 25-9-3 La Prevoyante and many others like Miesque, Maskette, Pretty Polly 24 22-2-0 there are a lot that can and should be remembered as GREAT · 233 days ago ·

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footlick · Melair was one of my favorites. · 232 days ago ·

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footlick · travel_vic- yes all of those and more. I'll add Allez France and Dahlia · 232 days ago ·

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travel_vic · I liked Melair too but simply too fragile to be considered great · 232 days ago ·

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travel_vic · 1 - Inthenickoftime 2 10 Tapfortexas 3 9/2 Highest Humor 4 3 R Skydiver 5 4 River Echo 6 6 Tiz True 7 7/2 Alert the Press 8 15 Roarin' Bayou · 232 days ago ·

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travel_vic · rail horse scratched · 232 days ago ·

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Buckpasser · I would also put Beldame and Miss Woodforde of old timers and Cicada, Ta Wee and Dark Mirage · 232 days ago ·

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footlick · Yes, Buckpasser. Dark Mirage on of my all time favorites. We could go on and on. Where would you rank Typecast? · 232 days ago ·

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buckpasser · I like Typecast but I have to admit I was a big fan of Turkish Trousers. Dark Mirage was incredible. Saw her in the Acorn. She was very tiny horse weighed 900 lbs. always one of my personal favorites. · 232 days ago ·

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travel_vic · I was at her big match race and it was a doozy · 232 days ago ·

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footlick · Turkish Trousers was another top class filly. But Typecast was always hard knocking, and her 4 races against males on the turf were great. Dark Mirage's first race in Cal was amazing as it looked like she was blocked and suddenly she squeezed through on the rail and just got Princessnesian. · 232 days ago ·

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footlick · travel_vic- one of the great match races, imo. · 232 days ago ·

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buckpasser · I remember Perry's Princessnesian. Nice mare great pedigree. Typecast and Convenience match race was a doozy. · 232 days ago ·

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travel_vic · still have that program between Convenience/Typecast and can hear old Harry Henson · 232 days ago ·

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Junebug719 · Gotta have Ladies Secret in there.. I think the younger folks here did not see her. We have a generational divide here. Moccasin? · 232 days ago ·

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footlick · nice t_v. · 232 days ago ·

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shadowno · Susans Girl & Tizna. Either one would be "the best ever" if they ran today. Also Manta, La Zanzara and the great Tallahto who scored multiple victories over some of the best males in the business and was an outstanding broodmare once she left the track. and Tal · 232 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · Wow!!!! Susan's Girl!!! Brings back memories. Also, another blast from the past. One of William Mott's early charges. Heatherten. · 231 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Manta a tough one from the days of my youth · 231 days ago ·

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buckpasser · Moccasin was a great two yr old. I remember her well having seen her run. But she never regained her form after that. Reminded me of Queen if the Stage. I might throw in Busanda here as a nice race mare. She won the Suburban and Saratoga Cup twice over males. And of course was Buckpasser's dam among others nice horses. · 231 days ago ·

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buckpasser · I always liked Tosmah and Desert Vixen. Tosmah beat an incredible who's who in the filly and mare world in the Beldame in the 60s. Also Gamely and old timers Bed of Roses and The great Busher. Real old timers were Imp, the Zenyatta of her day. They used to sing my coal black lady when she would appear on the track. Also Artful was one of the old time greats. · 231 days ago ·

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footlick · All wonderful. Mom's Command was wonderful too. And has Twilight Tear been mentioned in the more recent comments? · 231 days ago ·

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buckpasser · Moms Command Another nice one. I saw Peter Fuller died not too long ago. Twilight Tear was mentioned but certainly worth mentioning her again. I also remember Shuvee who won the JCGC twice when it was 2 miles · 231 days ago ·

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LAZMANNICK · Mom’s Command was always one of my favorites. Every one of her starts was in a stakes race and she won at nine different distances from 5F to 12F. Undefeated Melair, who defeated a field of 11 males in the Silver Screen Hdcp with Snow Chief back 11 lengths in third and with the mile in 1.32 4/5, including the 7F in 1.19 4/5, was always so dominant. I don’t think we even got close to seeing what she really was. The same could be said for Landaluce. · 231 days ago ·

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cocoa2 · Landaluce is my favorite female. · 231 days ago ·

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travel_vic · forget: that one (Melair) went lame wasn't it? · 230 days ago ·

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footlick · I read she had a couple colic attacks and was retired because of that · 230 days ago ·

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MarcelloMarocco · Top Females are All Along, Kinsecum,Zarkava,Makybe Diva and Dance Smartly. · 230 days ago ·

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RobGlycenfer · if awesome feather wins the ladies classic with this solid a field, does she crack the top 10? · 230 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Awesome Feahter in the same breath as Gallorette or Fashion or Miesque?.....Nope · 230 days ago ·

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Princess Rooney

The Distaff in 84 was run at the same distance as the Classic. Based on her time, Princess Rooney would have beaten the colts handily. She was magnificent!

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travel_vic · Very good one, saw her at the orignal Distaff at Hollywood in 84 · 344 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Hollywood was as fast as ever that year with Spend A Buck running his 6 furlong split in the Junveile faster than the final time for Eillo's sprint victory so take it with a grain of salt. · 344 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · When comparing times, one thing that can't be measured, is the nature of the animal. Although her time may have been better, to have run against the boys might be bothersome, to a filly. When they load in the gate, she can sense the testosterone, which might bother her upcoming performance. · 344 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Balderdash. Great ones who reoutinely ran and deated males just RAN...that is what they do and to THEORIZE about the bloom in the air and how it effects ALL femaies no mtter what the state of their estrus cycle is without a shread of evidence. Did Pebbles fear that crowd she destroyed on the turn in 85 at the BC Turf? Was Miesqu enamored by the boys she trounced twice at the BC Mile, Tryiptych, Lady's Scret, Personal Ensign, etc.....Your theory has no sicentific basis. · 344 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Ta Wee, Gallorette and the myriad of femlaes who handed males their collective heards must have had anosmia. · 344 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Final time depend FAR more on the track surface energy requirements, the from cycle of the animal not to mention the supporting splits that create the opportunity of having a fast or slow final time · 344 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · I mentioned the words "may" or "might". Purely hypothetical. If it is balderdash/poppycock, then why are there so few fillies that have run in the Ky Derby? In the last 97 runnings, 3 winners. Not a good percentage. · 344 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Few fillies in the KD because they simply cannot cope most of the time. Final time has nothing to do with the prolonged struggle that proceeds it. · 344 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · Ha!!! I'm using that!!!! Next time a friend asks how my bet went, I'll say, "He/She was sitting on a big one, but couldn't cope. In fact, He/she was sitting on a possible track record, if not for that prolonged struggle. Now, we're not talking your ordinary struggle. It was prolonged. Otherwise, track record!!!!! Holy Cow!!!!!" · 344 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Have the best women run against the best men. ANY DISTANCE, and who will be the most likely winners? · 344 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · Be sure to give them a 5 lb allowance. Or, have them tee off a little closer. · 343 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Weight? an 1100 pound animal could not tell a 20 pound shift let alone a 5 · 343 days ago ·

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travel_vic · I am astounded that many here don't realize that MOST of the riders in the AM who work out horses are 145 and upwards...many trainers work their own Larry whats his name trainer of Eight Belles is one. · 343 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · I thought you might have had some knowledge, but when you said "Larry whats his name trainer", I find it hard to believe that you can't come up with the name Jones. Forego once carried a piano on his back, and still prevailed!!!!! · 343 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Since horses run races and not trainers, I tend to only remember the stars of the game, nott the supporting staff. · 343 days ago ·

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larooski · I think the Ladies Classic should have stayed 1 and 1/4 miles · 343 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · Robyn, thanks for sharing. I wasn't aware that this mare wasn't efficient, as she was(17-for-21). Funny that the year was 1984. Earlier that year, a filly named Althea came from California, to win the Arkansas Derby, for D. Wayne Lukas. She recorded the 3rd fastest time ever(including boys) for the distance of a 1 1/8. She ended up the favorite in the Derby, but only beat one horse out of 19. Also in the race was her stablemate, Life's Magic(another filly), who would win the 1985 BC Distaff. Ironically, Lukas would win his first Ky Derby ever four years later, with a filly named Winning Colors. · 342 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · I should mention, 3rd fastest time for 3-year olds. · 342 days ago ·

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travel_vic · another filly old D. Wayne destroyed. · 342 days ago ·

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ruffian75 · tv, I thought you tend to only remember the stars, not the supporting staff. I guess for you to remember a trainer, he must have achieved star status? · 342 days ago ·

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travel_vic · D. Wayne Lukas the Butcher king of horse racing, hte "Breakdown King," is a well known entity who has been exposed. · 342 days ago ·

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Junebug719 · LOL. I think some of the ones riding weigh a bit over 200 lbs.. · 257 days ago ·

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Junebug719 · TV, I always appreciate you calling a spade a spade! · 257 days ago ·

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Haskin: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Many racing fans are prepared to state emphatically that Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra are two of the best, if not THE best, fillies of the past half-century. The list from which to chose, however, is longer than most think. Below is a reminder just how extensive that list is. With almost half the y...Read More

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Protagonist · In my humble opinion ,I think that the best Fillies of the past 50 years are: Zenyatta,Personal Ensign,Cicada,Susan's Girl, Ruffian, Shuvee, Genuine Risk, Winning Colors, Rachel Alexandra, Rags to Riches. · 822 days ago ·

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dubby30 · Anyone listing Rags to Riches on their top 10 anything list loses all credibility. · 822 days ago ·

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Thoroughbred44 · Why would that be? Rags To Riches was a great filly winning the Belmont, the longest of the three. · 822 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · dubbthough I do like Rags To Riches, Your comment was actually pretty good and funny. · 822 days ago ·

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mrsmaryzinke · That got cut off. Dubby. Your comment is true, unless she's on a top flashy chestnuts list. · 822 days ago ·

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BrianBradley · 1) Ruffian 2)Lady's Secret 3) Personal Ensign 4) Rachel Alexandra 5)Zenyatta 6)Bold N Determined 7) Regret 8) Genuine Risk 9) Go For Wand 10) Inside Information · 746 days ago ·

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xMystix · I'm glad that Mr. Haskin mentions other great fillies and mares other than the ones that are totally fresh in our minds. There were even horses that I have forgotten about or haven't even heard of. Certainly, all these wonderful horses deserve recognition and respect, past and present. But what a talented list! It's hard to really choose a top 10 with these wonderful fillies and mares. · 746 days ago ·

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MikeSek · 1) ZENYATTA 2) RUFFIAN 3) LADY'S SECRET 4) GENUINE RISK 5) BOLD N' DETERMINED 6) SUSAN'S GIRL 7) PERSONAL ENSIGN 8) GO FOR WAND 9) INSIDE INFORMATION 10) SHUVEE · 543 days ago ·

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MikeSek · 1) ZENYATTA 2) RUFFIAN 3) LADY'S SECRET 4) GENUINE RISK 5) BOLD N' DETERMINED 6) SUSAN'S GIRL 7) PERSONAL ENSIGN 8) GO FOR WAND 9) INSIDE INFORMATION 10) SHUVEE · 543 days ago ·

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warrena · TA WEE .#1 DR FAGERS 1/2 sister. check her record and weight she carried ...non of the fillies,mares would carry that weight...case closed · 542 days ago ·

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driveon · I'm surprised not a single person has Dance Smartly on their list-she certainly belongs in the argument as does Glorious Song · 542 days ago ·

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warrena · ta wee enough said · 542 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Mioesque, Ta Wee, Safely Kept, Lady's Secret, Ruffian...there are many · 542 days ago ·

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stevebiscuit · 1) Zenyatta 2) Lady's Secret 3) Personal Ensign 4) Go For Wand 5) Bayakoa 6) Azeri 7) Rachel Alexandra 8) Twilight Tear 9) Gallorette 10) Busher · 535 days ago ·

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Buckpasser · Ta Wee. Shuvee. Zenyatta.personal Ensign. Lady's Secret. Ruffian. Dark Mirage. Go for wand. Davona Dale. Dahlia. Cicada Rachel Alexandra. Straight Deal. · 535 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Big hole in not adding Bayakoa (39 21-9-0), Miesque (16 12-3-1). Chris Everett (15 10-2-2), Haynies Maria (9 8-1-0). Genuine Risk (15 10-3-2), Go For Wand (13 12 -2-0), umtaz Mahal (1- 7-2-0), La Prevayonte ( 39 25-5-3), Lady's Secret ( 45 25-9-3), Two Lea (25 15-6-3)Top Flight (16 12-0-0), Ta Wee (21 15-2 1), Spinaway (9 7-2-0),Sky Beauty (21 15-2-2), Pretty Polly (24 22-2-0), Princess Rooney ( 21 17-2-1), Pan Zareta ( `5` 76-31-21) in a class of her own!, Myrtylwood ( 22 15-4-2), Mollie McCarthy ( 17 15-0-0), Maskette ( 17 12-3-0) · 534 days ago ·

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~RuffianQueenOfRacing~ · Ruffian · 519 days ago ·

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SandyChapman · Althea, if only she hadn't tired in the Kentucky Derby. She was a hero to me. · 517 days ago ·

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Mary Z. · I love this thread. It helped change my life last spring. · 517 days ago ·

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zatt · Tell us more, Mary. · 517 days ago ·

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Mary Z. · I sent a message. lol · 517 days ago ·

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RIPbarbaro14 · 1) Zenyatta 2) Rachel Alexandra 3) Eight Bells 4)Ruffian 5)Lady's Secret 6) Mariahs Storm 7) Top Flight 8) Bold'N Determined 9)Shuvee 10) rags To Riches. Those are the top 10 best fillies of the last 50 years · 516 days ago ·

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travel_vic · no Miesque, Go For Wand? Landaluce, Storm Flag Flying Azeri You need to read more · 516 days ago ·

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travel_vic · Bayakoa, Paeana? My goodness · 516 days ago ·

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MarcelloMarocco · All Along, Dance Smartly, Makybe Diva, kincsem, Sunline, regret, Ruffian, Zarkava, Glorious Song. Top that! · 478 days ago ·

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Landaluce, Princess Rooney, Hialeah Park - November 28th

The brilliant Landaluce, who won her five lifetime starts by a total of 46 1/2 lengths, died of a viral infection.Read More

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Breeders' Cup Top 10 - The Distaff/Ladies' Classic (with Videos)

Counting down the Top 10 Breeders' Cup Distaff/Ladies' Classic runnings...Read More

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AndyScoggin · Love your list. Personal Ensign would have been my #1, too. · 596 days ago ·

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BrianAppleton · Thanks Andy! There are so many impressive runs, but Personal Ensign was just too much, I couldn't see my way around her at #1 :) · 596 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · You picked the right #1 for sure, Brian ... and it is always great to see two of my all-time favs, Lady's Secret and Princess Rooney, doing their thing! · 596 days ago ·

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Mike in SB · I like the 1991 Ladies Classic with Dance Smartly. She was a Triple Crown winner in Canada and beat the best older horses in the Distaff. She should get more respect when people talk about the great 3 year old fillies. · 596 days ago ·

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KyOaksRunner · @Brian - I almost left Lady's Secret off, but after looking into the field, and seeing the time she ran on the lead all the way for 1 1/4 miles there was no way I could toss her! · 596 days ago ·

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KyOaksRunner · @Mike - Dance Smartly was my #11, she had a fantastic year and beat a pretty good field in the Distaff too! · 596 days ago ·

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cpsoren121 · Lady's Secret is my choice! · 596 days ago ·

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Big Shakeup In Top 10 Power Ranking

Big shakeups this week in the Power Ranking! Goldikova remains at number 1, but no one else was safe this week from the fickle click-fingers of fans.Read More

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BrianZipse · Malibu Pier is in the Top 10 and So You Think is not??? HRN rankers ... you have some 'xplaining to do!!! · 722 days ago ·

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skipaway2000 · I wasn't joking when I said "fickle click-fingers of fans!" · 722 days ago ·

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girt · I have a hard time believing Frankel isn't in the top ten. He wins the St James Palace(G1). Even though the margin slimmer than he usually wins by, everyone should consider that race his bounce. · 722 days ago ·

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lonhro · So You Think #19= lol. · 718 days ago ·

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zatt · He's #1 on my list. · 717 days ago ·

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Woodbinemile · So You Think should be #1, Canford Cliffs #2 , Black Caviar #3, Blind Luck #4, Rocketman #5. · 702 days ago ·

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Power Ranking Power Players Remain At The Top

The Top Ten Active HorsesThe Top 10 Active Horses remained the same as last week, with just a few minor shifts in position after an exciting weekend of racing.Goldikova remains in 1st despite a narrow defeat at the hooves of Canford Cliffs, who broke the Top 20 this week after his win at Royal Ascot...Read More

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Animal Kingdom Leads Three Year Olds In Overall Top 10

Top Ten Active HorsesHRN members have spoken - Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is the top 3-year-old in the land, ranking #2 for the third straight week. He is the only 3-year- old, male or female, in the top 10. Belmont 4th-place finisher Nehro is the next highest-ranked 3-year-old, comin...Read More

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skipaway2000 · Where's Frankel in these ratings? Oh yeah, he's #39... eeek · 736 days ago ·

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TimSmith · I would say Frankel is around 20 · 736 days ago ·

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HRN Power Rankings Feature International Stars This Week

This week's Top 10 has an international flair, with 3 foreign stars getting your votes. Goldikova, the French-based miler, retains the top spot. In 4th is Black Caviar, the Australian champion sprinter who is undefeated in 13 starts. Black Caviar is a five-year-old mare who smokes th...Read More

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skipaway2000 · Still no Shackleford...*sigh* maybe a Belmont win will boost him into the Top 10... · 743 days ago ·

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Princess Rooney

princess rooney was truley amazing!

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All-Time Favorite Dominant Distaffers

While doing my daily surf thing the other day, I noticed that a poster on Thoroughbred racing brought up the subject of his Top 10 Fillies of All Time. This got me to wondering, which were mine? So with pen and notepad (remember those?) I began jotting down names. My brain went on tilt when I reache...Read More

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humphrey · You have to suggest the best of an era to be truly logical in this search. Not best of all time since there is no common yardstick to compare with ...Steel shoes, dull racing surfaces, few races specificially for the distaff set etc. make historical comparison subject to a variety of problems. · 971 days ago ·

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cugel the clever · hump-free.... in addition to your many mental defects, you also seem to have a readiing comprehension problem. the writer made a point of saying his "favourite" distaffers of all time, not "best". also, he has restricted the list to the past 49 years, which dates back only to 1961. except for the abomination of synthetic surfaces, there wasn't that much different about the sport during the past 5 decades to make comparisons impossible. my vote on his poll went to Ruffian. Z would have been my second choice. · 971 days ago ·

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Thead'or · My favorite filly has always been Landaluce. I'm dissapointed that she has so few votes. In only 5 races she proved herself to be one of the greatest fillies of all time. You can geuss why I'm an avid Rachel fan. She reminds me so much of how Landaluce was. · 895 days ago ·

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humphrey · Miesque · 895 days ago ·

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Ranking Rachel and Zenyatta All-Time

How do Rachel and Zenyatta rank with the greatest females of all-time? Ryan Patterson takes a look for HRN.Read More

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invasor · Great look back at some of the greatest fillies and mares of all time. It's terrific for the sport of racing to have two stars like Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta that embody greatness and capture the imagination of so many fans and we are here to witness it. By the way, I'm going to have to add Goldikova to the all-time list of the greatest fillies and mares. · 1198 days ago ·

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Rossington · I'm old enough that I've seen all of the fillies on this list from Ruffian on up race in their careers. Although each is uniquely different in their racing style, the one common denominator among all of the fillies that I saw race that are on this list is a "tremendous will to win." No quit in any of these fillies, that's why they're on this list. As far as just pure, blinding, front-running speed and ability, Ruffian for me easily surpasses them all. She would bolt out of the gate, go straight to the lead, and never relinquish it, during all 10 for 10 of her completed races. She tragically broke down in her 11th start in the 1974 match race against 74' Kentucky Derby winning colt "Foolish Pleasure." A race she was leading until she broke her leg. I also, for my money, don't think there's any question about that Zenyatta is the greatest on this list for a deep closer. As great as Ruffian was for a confirmed front runner, Zenyatta is just as equally great as a deep closer. I've never seen another filly/mare that possesses the size, strength, and a stride length that enables her to make up so much ground so quickly, that she has won nearly all of her 14 lifetime starts by taking the wide, overland route. Remarkable. The best filly on this list for distance, as a stayer, for me is Genuine Risk. She more than proved that in 1980 by beating colt's at 1-1/4 in the 80' Kentucky Derby. Came right back, finishing 2nd to Kodex at 1-3/16 in the 80' Preakness. Then cemented that legacy by racing, and again finishing a game 2nd to the colts at 1-1/2 in the 80' Belmont Stakes. The greatest one single race, that showed the most heart for a filly on this list would be, for me, Personal Ensign's triumph in the 1988 Breeders Cup Distaff. I say that only because she was racing over a muddy, sloppy track. Against another great filly in 88' Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors, and at the 1/4 pole, Personal Ensign looked like a filly who's undefeated record would suffer it's first blemish. But digging into that Churchill Downs mud, and showing the "heart" of a champion, that she was, Personal Ensign summoned the "will to win", ultimately nailing Winning Colors at the wire. She overcame terrible track conditions, and a very high quality competitor in Winning Colors, and ultimately prevailed. That's my take on 4 of the fillies on this list. It's all only the way I saw them. I'm sure everyone did not see it through the same eyes that I saw it through. · 1198 days ago ·

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