Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

GizzyG — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 03:54:33 GMT

Took me a bit to decide the order of my top ten...

1. Gallorette

2. Susan's Girl

3. Genuine Risk

4. Personal Ensign

5. Go For Wand

6. Ruffian

7. Regret

8. Winning Colors

9. Rachael Alexander

10. Bayakoa

Now for fan favorites I think it would be more like this:

1. Ruffian

2. Sweetwater Oak *Shame on you racing fans for not mentioning her famous race with Nate Hubbard*

3. Go For Wand

4. Winning Colors

5. Genuine Risk

6. Personal Ensign

7 Rachael Alexander

8. Zenyatta

9. Eight Belles

10. Safely Kept

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

casaNM — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 03:10:08 GMT

Difficult to decide indeed. Surprised Moccasin, tied for HOTY with Secretariat didn't rate a mention--so I will include her for her spectacular 2 yr. old season, and pretty good thereafter.

1. Zenyatta

2. Personal Ensign

3. Lady's Secret

4. Go For Wand

5. Moccasin

6. Winning Colors

7. Genuine Risk

8. Azeri

9. Ta Wee

10. Shuvee

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Eleanor — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:52:14 GMT

1) Ruffian (Withou any doubt the best filly ever...She really love running!)

2) Zenyatta

3) Personal Ensign

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Emily — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:44:30 GMT

1. Zenyatta

2. Lady's Secret

3. Go For Wand

4. Ruffian

5. Rags to Riches

6. Genuine Risk

7. Regret (I know she's not on your list, but I still like her)

8. Personal Ensign

9. Cicada

10. Rachel Alexandra (Her career wasn't as impressive as a lot of horses on this list, she was just sorta a one hit wonder).

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

outrider420 — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:41:49 GMT

1913's Regret is older than 50, but..

Genuine Risk, and does anyone remember a filly named Past Regrets, broke her leg I remember? Not a nominee, but couldn't find her....

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

GoldenOakFarm — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:38:20 GMT

I have to say as a starter just how shocked I am with how many lists don't have Ruffian as #1. It's amazing how time can erase many memories. She was an amazing filly and may not only be one of the greatest of the past 50 years, but of the past century.

1.) RUFFIAN

2.) Zenyatta

3.) Genuine Risk

4.) Go For Wand

5.) Lady's Secret

6.) Personal Ensign

7.) Rachel Alexandra

8.) Xtra Heat

9.) Turkish Trousers

10.)Shuvee

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Colossal Girl — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:12:26 GMT

I have loved so many of these ladies.

I will likely be crucified for this, but I cannot rank horses who suffered break-down injuries and therefore turned fans away from our sport. I know that leaves some great ones off of MY list. But durability counts for a lot in my book, as does heartbreak.

Conversely, I have to give a great amount of credit to the girls that are still running: I think RA and Zenyatta have revitalized interest in racing more than any colts running. I also have to agree with Sammi P regarding Blind Luck and Discreetly Mine - good fillies!

In the list of questionable lasting influence, I have to add Rags to Riches and Azeri. These were excellent race mares, but I think where they will prove all-around greatness is as broodmares.

I'll give you my favorite 5, several of whom are listed because I am overly sentimental:

1) Lady's Secret - simply wonderful. She was a beast, and her greatness is amplified by the fact that she survived D. Wayne Lucas... okay, crucify again, but he's hell on a horse!

2) Personal Ensign - perfect is just that. And the '88 Distaff remains a favorite, even though I was in the WC corner that day. BONUS: what a producer!! Not many of these mares can add that to their resumes.

3) Genuine Risk - very few colts do as well in the Triple Crown races. She was beautiful and classy. Too bad she had so much trouble catching and delivering a live foal. How interesting would it have been to see her Secretariat babies? This is the only reason I put her at 3 rather than 2.

4) Zenyatta - I don't care about the polytrack. I used to, but after watching her go enough times, I think she can beat any active runner at any track, any continent. I may be wrong, but I'm in her corner right now!

5) Winning Colors - gets a spot because she is the horse that hooked me. Been a racing fan ever since. VERY sentimental pick! (But was she fun to watch? Oh yes!) She didn't hold up as well to Lucas. This is another great who (as yet - there are still 2 out there) has yet to produce a winner of note.

I've got my other faves, horses like Shaggy Mane and Ginger Punch, but they don't rate here. I can't wait for the turf installment: Goldikova deserves every accolade the dirt runners do!

Get your nails out, Ruffian and GFW fans.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

mararacing — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:54:44 GMT

tuff tuff thought provoking list. As we are limited to the last 50 years, it leaves off a couple I would have placed high on my list, specifically Gallorette, who would have been my #2 pick. One will always remain #1 even though her career was short, but what a career, owner of 2 track records, equalled or set 8 stakes records and an average winning margin of over 8 lengths.

1. Ruffian

2. Rachel (her 3YO campaign hard to argue, but she may move down the list based on BC this year)

3. Ladys Secret (she was truely the Iron Lady)

4. Ta Wee (beat the boys at 3 & 4 and carried handicap weight we'll never see today)

5. Zenyatta (may move up after BC)

6. Gamely (raced against the best, ie Dr F)

7. Gallant Bloom

8. Genuine Risk (ran in all 3 triple crown events, which no other filly has done)

9. Serena Song (went everywhere)

10. Dance Smartly (TC is TC)

Affectionately, Xtra Heat, Colors, Ensign and Pepper all hard to leave off and deserve mention

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Otherlyn — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:24:26 GMT

Where is:

BUTTERFLY BELLE ???

Butterfly Belle gave Russell Baze his record breaking ride, then was raced down and down. She has "disappeared"/seems now to have fallen off the face of the earth)

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Timurlenk — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:22:57 GMT

3 are enough:

1.- Ruffian

2.- Zenyatta

3.- Personal Ensign

the rest are just sweet memories.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Barbaro8 — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 18:34:13 GMT

Statistics and track records sum it all up:

R-U-F-F-I-A-N

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

LAZMANNICK — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:43:37 GMT

Hey Deacon......

Glad to hear from you. This is part of a post I posted on the next blog defining just how awesome Ruffian was.....

Remarkable Ruffian……….

Here's another point to show just how great Ruffian was. Excluding her ill-fated match race, if you total up all the calls in her ten races (40) you will see that only in 4 of them (10%) did she ever lose ground from one call to the next and in one other call the margin remained the same. Also, only in the last race that she actually finished, the 1-1/2M Coaching Club Oaks, did she lose ground (3L to 2 3/4L) in the final call. I find this incredible, especially because she was a front runner, never was headed, ran fast times, and in every race except the last, after setting fast fractions actually accelerated away from her competition. THIS VALIDATES HER GREATNESS.

I think she definitely was in the top ten all time and that is saying a lot.

I don't want to mention Zenyatta because as much as I like her, she was not Ruffian, and even though I placed her second, there are others that rightfully I should have placed ahead of her. However, in this analogy, when doing the same for Zen (on the other blog), she is the only one who has those type of stats (possibly Personal Ensign though I can't say for sure).

Seeing any horse breakdown is catastrophic to me as I know with you. It really does hit home especially in the old days when they didn't cover up euthanasia on the track like they do now. They are such wonderful athletes and they are doing what they love best. Have a good one.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Brasco26 — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:42:42 GMT

@Lazmannick - is that the same Let Me Linger that won 7 of 41 starts? If that is the biggest accomplishment of one of Ruffian's competitors, doesn't it prove my point she faced a weak crop of 3 yr old fillies?

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Cleone — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:06:55 GMT

Since my first list got lost somewhere – I think I’ll go ahead and repost it. I put a lot of thought into it and hate to have all that effort go to waste!

My purely subjective list follows. Like all of us, I have my preferences and my biases. The ones I know about as regards horse racing are – I like longevity, so a career that spans more than one season – or preferably several seasons – is probably going to catch my notice more than a shorter career. I like horses who can run a distance, and I like horses who can win at varying distances. And sometimes I like a horse just because it catches my eye, or my imagination, or my heart. Not all the horses on my list meet all my preferences, so there’s no need to point that out to me. I already know.

1) Ruffian – Her career was short, but she was so blazingly fast, and won at so many distances and set or equaled so many records, I couldn’t not put her first.

2) Zenyatta – 17 for 17 is what it is, and the fact that she’s run largely on synthetic tracks just doesn’t bother me. Those are the tracks available to her where she lives and trains, and so that’s what she runs on. To me, it’s no big deal. And she’s 17 for 17.

3) Personal Ensign – Yeah, 13 for 13, and the most amazing stretch run in the BC Distaff to beat the Kentucky Derby winner. Wow.

4) Lady’s Secret – The Iron Lady. Ran everywhere, against everybody, and beat most of ‘em. Doesn’t hurt that Big Red is her daddy.

5) Susan’s Girl – I was actually a little surprised that she didn’t show up on more lists – but then, there were an awful lot of really good horses to pick from! But she was one tough mare.

6) Gallant Bloom – she is actually a little before my time, but I remember reading about her and hearing about her when I was new to racing, and twelve stakes wins in a row is nothing to sneeze at!

7) Shuvee – Again, a little before my time, but TWO Jockey Club Gold Cups, before the distance was gutted? Yowza.

8) Rachel Alexandra – She would probably be higher if she’d started stronger at four, and as she’s still running, she has time to impress me more than she has already! She’s an amazing filly.

9) Genuine Risk – Winner of the Derby, second in the Preakness and Belmont. ‘Nuff said.

10) Bayakoa – Okay, I have to confess I somehow missed a lot of the ‘90s. I had teenagers in the house, and they sucked up a lot of my time and attention. (I missed Cigar, too, no idea how THAT happened.) I never missed a Triple Crown or Breeder’s Cup race, and yet so much happened in racing that I draw a complete blank on! I know I saw Bayakoa’s Breeder’s Cup Distaff wins, but all that sticks in my mind there is Go for Wand’s horrific breakdown. Nevertheless, I’ve read about her, and heard others speak glowingly of her, and her record speaks for itself.

I loved the opportunity here to remember so many fine fillies and mares, and to learn about the ones I didn’t know much about, before. My list of ten was tough to come up with, and if I were putting it together today (I did this list on Tuesday) it would probably be different.

Too late for the tabulation, I know, but here it is anyway! Thanks, Steve.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Barb — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:23:36 GMT

While all of these fillies are exceptional and sensational, Zenyatta is by far the best of all of them. I really don't get the 15-17 on synthetic as a listed con. She's won on dirt and synthetic. I applaud her owners and trainer for pick and choosing her races to keep her healthy and without injury. She beat the best males on the planet in the Breeders and there is still doubt about her ability. Go figure.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Sabu — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:26:49 GMT

I think Moms Command should get a boost up in the numbers, as she was ridden by the bosses daughter, who excelled at riding in New England. Imagine what her #'s could have been With a rider like Cordero etc. Sabu

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Miker — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:58:57 GMT

1 - Ruffian

2 - Genuine Risk

3 - Shuvee

4 - Zenyatta

5 - Rachel Alexandra

6 - Lady's Secret

7 - Winning Colors

8 - Cicada

9 - Go for Wand

10 - Ta wee

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Ann — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:05:39 GMT

Ann

1. ruffian

2.eight belles

3.landaluce

4.genuine risk

5.go for wand

6.rags to riches

7.weekend surprise

8.winning colors

9.life's magic

10.personal ensign

Why wasn't weekend surprise mentioned? She was a good filly in her day.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Deacon — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:21:35 GMT

Lazmannick:

I concur 100%, Ruffian was the best filly of all time, perhaps maybe even in the top 5 of all time horses. She was the standard of elegance, beauty, and greatness. Watching her breakdown that sad day in 1975 was the only time I ever cried. My dad was a brilliant handicapper, he saw most of the great ones run and he told me (he never lied) that Ruffian was the best HORSE he ever saw run, bar none. He loved Swaps, and Damascus and Native Dancer and he thought she was better. Many of these bloggers were not around back in the day, but for us old timers, we will never forget.

Obviously all folks are entitled to an opinion but trust me when I tell you that we will NEVER see the likes Ruffian ever again......

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

BobV. — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:42:06 GMT

Anyone who saw RUFFIAN run would not even think about putting anyone else #1. She was the Secretariat of fillies. Also, I don't think anyone mentioned FLANDERS. Just five lifetime starts, all wins, in 1994 but four grade one wins including a victory over Serena's Song in the BC

Juvenile Fillies running on three legs after being injured at the start.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

CL — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:57:38 GMT

I can hardly believe some people placed Ruffian lower than 1st or ever left her off their lists entirely. Look at her times and her first at every point of call record. Too many people here have apparently only seen Z and RA, and a few other recent runners. Sad.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Terry — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:57:01 GMT

I can't wait for turf fillies poll! There are lots of greats there too.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Pedigree Shelly — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:10:17 GMT

I think we have may forgotten someone , or maybe I overlooked ! Her name is Three Ring ! She was brilliant enough to be entered in the Derby where unfortunately she finished last but she rebounded awesomely ! In her last race ,she died brutally before she hit the track :( I just hope she is remembered :)

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Gia — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:41:59 GMT

Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a sprinter! Don't devalue this type of racing by calling a horse "only" a sprinter. I'd put Xtra Heat and Ta Wee, "only" sprinters or not, pretty high on my list because they were GREAT racers.

re: Best Fillies of the Past 50 Years

Backtalk — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:26:17 GMT

Hi Steve. This was a fun blog. To Chris: DITTO X 10. Plus, I believe Ruffian would have won her last race had she not broke down.