Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Cassandra.Says — Sat, 11 May 2013 02:44:12 GMT

In case someone is still hanging around: to point a filly for the Derby requires passing on the Oaks. The boys' path to the Derby is designed to avoid such sacrifices.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

myntjulius — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:39:24 GMT

While so much focus goes to strategies to fill the 20th spot for the Derby, it would benefit the horses and racing if they actually made it harder to get in and limited the field more. How about making it a minimum of 50 points to get in?? This would make trainers more serious and contentious in the prep races, and make the "Derby" a more serious race as opposed to the brawl of a sideshow it has become.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Pedigree Ann — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:15:30 GMT

Eric -

Don't know until they try. Sometimes the fillies/mares look really good among themselves, but when they try open company, they can't compete. Bayakoa couldn't. Susan's Girl couldn't. That's why they run the races.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

EJMitchellKy — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:11:52 GMT

Pedigree Ann, you are correct Den's Legacy (who was suspected of pulling out of contention at the time this article was written and did) has 20 points and is a grade III stakes winner. I think you'll agree there is no debating (at this point) whether the grade III winners are outclassed by Dreaming of Julia.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

depalma113 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:30:29 GMT

Someone else came up with this and it needs to be shared so maybe it can be suggested.

The top two point earning fillies have the option of the last two spots in the Derby field. If they pass, than 19 & 20 go back to the next two colts on the list.

The fillies cannot be cross entered.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Pedigree Ann — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:24:11 GMT

Point of fact: Den's Legacy, sitting with 20 points, is also a graded SW - he won the G3 Generous S at Hollywood Park last fall. It was a grass race - indeed, Denny will probably go back to grass or AW (why didn't they send him to the Blue Grass?) at this point - but a graded race nonetheless.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

vapaul67 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:30:22 GMT

no, no, and no!!! Look, if D.O.J. was so special, how come Todd Pletcher, one of the most successful trainers in history, not see this and point her to the Derby prep races? Y'all are basing this on one race. Besides that, every horse has the same chance to qualify under the new system. If you wanted to change the process that the pts do not determine ALL of the entrants and have some other way set up for the remaining entrants, I could see that. But a wild-card entry just for Fillies? I don't see how that's fair.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Plod Boy Phil — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:03:35 GMT

Completely disagree.

Looking at the last two fillies that won the Derby, each had been tested against the boys. Winning Colors won the SA derby and Genuine Risk ran 3rd in the Wood. The latter went on to prove her medal by running well in the Preakness and Belmont. Had the current point system been in effect, it's likely her connections would have planned accordingly.

Recent history has shown a string of failures from highly regarded fillies, including the favored Serena's Song (a man among girls, Excellent Meeting, Life and Althea. None came close to hitting the board. The one recent 'success', Eight Belles, ran so hard trying to compete, she essentially killed herself in the process.

As for Dreaming of Julia, if the Pletcher camp had any clue she was going to run out of her skin in the Fla Oaks, she'd have been in the Fla Derby. Let's see if she even wins the Oaks.

In the mean time, qualify as the rules require, or open the Oaks to colts.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Jbumi — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:36:07 GMT

I love the wild card idea! Wish they could implement it this year!!

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

EJMitchellKy — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:44:09 GMT

Ladybri, you won't see any changes this year. CD would not want to change the rules in midstream anyway. We'll have to wait to see if any adjustments are made.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

ladybri — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:53:14 GMT

Will they be changing this so that fillies can run against the boys? Would love to see Julia run in the derby.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

ksweatman9 — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:42:17 GMT

Makes sense to me. Everybody loves to see a filly take on the boys. I'll never forget how mad my dad was when Curlin lost to "Rags" in the Belmont. He loved Curlin, thought he was going to pop his top. Heck yeah, throw a filly in there to rock the boat.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

mz — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:49:33 GMT

Yes, yes, yes.

Trainer even said he might have suggested the Derby for Dreaming of Julia if it wasn't for the stinkin' points.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Debbiek — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:14:07 GMT

I think this is a very good idea as I think the fillies should have a shot at it too. I know many would argue that the fillies then should be facing the boys in the Derby preps, which Genuine Risk did in the Wood, but I think the point that you made about a Grade 1 winning filly versus a Grade 3 winning colt is a good one. Maybe some of the upper level filly races should be considered as point races towards those final Derby entry spots. At least maybe it should be considered.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Karen in Indiana — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 01:39:00 GMT

Yes, you are correct.

re: Wild Card for Fillies - by Eric Mitchell

Old Old Cat — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:56:23 GMT

Amen, Amen

Well said by someone with credibility. Tweak number one. more to follow.