By Rachel Levine, author of Thorough Chat
The incomparable filly Megahertz has been described as the "little
filly that could". She may be tiny, but she can pack a kick. Sometimes she
played second fiddle to horses such as Tate's Creek, Intercontinental, Ouija
Board, Film Maker and Riskaverse. However, she showed that despite her small
size, her heart was huge.
Born in England, Megahertz raced in two countries: France
and the United States. Her record in France was not that great, however she
blossomed once she landed in the States. In her first race for Hall of Famer
Bobby Frankel and owner Michael Bello, she won the 2002 Blue Norther Stakes.
Later that year she won the G2 Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap and the
American Oaks via disqualification. In July of 2003, she finally won her first
G1 race, the John C. Mabee Handicap. In that race, she upset her stablemate
Tate's Creek, and Dublino, the filly that was disqualified in the previous
year's American Oaks. Her final race of
2003 resulted in a fifth place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
In 2004, Megahertz was disqualified from the Santa Ana
Handicap after winning the race due to interference. After finishing second to
last in the Breeders' Cup F/M Turf, she faced the boys for the only time in her
US career. She finished 2nd by a head behind Pellegrino in the
Hollywood Turf Cup, finishing ahead of Cal-Bred superstar Moscow Burning and ‘04
Breeders' Cup Turf winner Better Talk Now.
2005 was her final year of racing, a year in which there
were many highs and lows. There was the redemption of winning the Santa Ana
after finishing third, and being DQ'ed the previous two years. There was also
the heartbreak of losing the Beverly D by a neck, and her very disappointing
final race in the Breeders' Cup F/M Turf where she saw her stablemate
Intercontinental go gate to wire.
The following two videos are of her final two wins, the
Santa Barbara Handicap and the Yellow Ribbon Stakes. I hope that you enjoy
these videos of this fine filly.
Now owned by Roy and Gretchen Jackson (of Barbaro, Nicanor
and Lentenor fame), Megahertz has currently three foals on the ground. A 3yo
named Causeithertz (by Giant's Causeway), a 2yo filly named Littlegreatone (by
Bernardini), and an unnamed Street Cry colt. Hopefully these foals are able to
follow in their mother's footsteps with the same tenacity she displayed on the
track.
