Kentucky Oaks Derby Winners To Duel in Preakness
Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra Will Run in Historic Clash
May 15, 2009
Trainer Frank Whiteley fought to keep Ruffian out of a matchup with Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure in 1975. While he steadfastly resisted, the clamor for an opposite sex championship raged on.
The unbeaten filly and Foolish Pleasure finally hooked up when two other competitors dropped out of a race that was supposed to involve more rivals than just the two champions as entrants. Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure had each been voted champion two-year-old in their respective 1974 classes. Their clash on the track all along had seemed inevitable.
Mine That Bird Will Test Rachel Alexandra
While there is dangerous historic precedence to matching fillies against colts, there is no chain of evidence that justifies any contention that such a race will inevitably end in disaster.
It can be noted that Ruffian fatally broke down that day against her male counterpart, that Eight Belles collapsed after her second place run to Big Brown in last season's Kentucky Derby, that Rags to Riches never had a chance to regain her racing form when a fracture sidelined her in the race following her duel with Curlin in the 2007 Belmont Stakes.
In any event, Oaks winner will meet Derby winner on Saturday. It has been said that the lady hasn't had superior competition in her filly races. And it is known that Mine That Bird was a Derby longshot behind a classy group of three-year-old colts.
Oddsmakers will slant that as they may. But public voting thus far has made filly Rachel Alexandra a Preakness favorite. Seven Derby horses will be in the chase.
Jess Jackson's Sporting Attitude
It can also be said that Jess Jackson, now majority owner of Rachel Alexandra, is a sporting gentleman through and through and willing to buck the odds.
At first reluctant to enter 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin in last fall's Breeders' Cup World Championships, possibly against Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, Jackson took the challenge, saying the public was thirsting for such a competition.
He had not shied away from the risk of taking Curlin to Dubai. There, his chestnut thumped the best in the world.
It took Jackson less than a breath's time to supplement Rachel Alexandra to the Preakness after purchasing her with friend Harold T. McCormick. Previous connections had taken a stiff stand against entering their lady in races traditionally meant for males.
Stage Set for Filly-Colt Questions Again
The outcome of the Preakness Stakes will not, as in the past, answer the question of who is better -- filly, or colt? It is just one race, not a best-out-of-seven free-for-all.
But if one wants to take part in the debate, the 134th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 16 would be a good place to do so.
