Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

kirk — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:46:28 GMT

If ur a real horseman you just can't deny the heart of Bold n Determined when she beat Genuine Risk. They hooked heads, nose to nose from the three quarters pole to the wire. Possibily the best finish other than Affirmed and Alydar in the `78 Belmont. Hey ! Bloodhorse where's that video (b n Determined). WHAT A RACE !

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

ABZ — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:32:06 GMT

Bold n' Determined 7th ??? A tough race but I pick the Princess. What a filly she was!

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Springsmom83 — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:54:47 GMT

For me, the bottom 6 are really equal. I had to rank them, but they were all really spectacular fillies. Rags and Silverbulletday are really memorable inrecent history but I saw several of the older fillies run. What a treat! Davona Dale was a fabulous tribuite to Calumet Farm's breeding program. Susan's Girl was AWESOME! Open Mind and Goodbye Halo, how do you really separate them? Tough choices!

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Jennifer — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:34:30 GMT

Davona Dale, because she was that great. Then, Princess Rooney, Susan's Girl, and Bold N Determined. But who's to say, one person's No. 1, is another person's No, 2, 3, 4 or 5. These are some nice fillies.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Patty — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:32:23 GMT

How can Ashado be this far down the list. She was a great mare and was very good. I voted for Rags to riches as my first choice with Ashado a very close second.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Smarie — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:23:26 GMT

I wonder why Rags To Riches wasn't voted Horse of the Year 2 years ago? People always complain that champion fillies don't run against the males. Well, she did, and she defeated one of the best in Curlin, but that still wasn't enough to get her HOY. The voting is very prejudiced there and should be entirely re-vamped. Too many excellent horses haven't received any awards because of voter bias. The good 'ol boys system is alive and well in the upper crust of racing.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

trackjack — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:26:16 GMT

Susan's Girl on top. I was blessed to be at her Oaks in 1972, back when you could sit in the grandstand for regular price. She was flashy, full of grit, had her field measured and won with authority. Her future exploits only confirmed her class. Rags to Riches next, a true champion, dominating her Oaks field and confirming her class besting Curlin in the mile and a half Belmont.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

lobieb — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:55:26 GMT

It was a great list but I had to put Princess Rooney lst with Susan's Girl second and Rags for third, heck what do I know.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Leroy — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:11:25 GMT

Princess Rooney without a doubt. She was great. She won 17 out of 21 starts and was only off the board once.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Bill — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:57:04 GMT

Can't argue with the thought that Susan's Girl should be higher on the list. She was an iron mare who rarely if ever ran an "off" race. I have a feeling that if this poll were conducted a year from now the name of Rachel Alexandra would be on somebody's list. We ought to see quite a show on Friday as this edition of the Oaks features two fillies who may be the best in many years. I see where Finley is confident in Justwhistlindixie and who can blame him, but Rachel is just in another league. Maybe, one of the great ones...

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Jay V — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:36:01 GMT

Very good group of 10 fillies, but allow me to give a shout out to the most glaring ommision, one of all time favs, Fran's Valentine. I'd rank her ahead of three that were included.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

GunBow — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:25:26 GMT

I wasnt around when she raced, but I have Susan's Girl #1 as well. In fact, I think she may be the greatest female ever, or at least one of the top 5.

This was a brutal list to decide from. So many great fillies. I think Goodbye Halo is one of the most underrated horses ever, a winner of 7 grade 1 races, but I could rate her no higher than #8. Open Mind had a 10 race winning streak w/ 7 grade 1s including the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies + Kentucky Oaks + Acorn + Mother Goose + Coaching Club Oaks + Alabama, and I have her 7th (Bayakoa kind of exposed her later that year). However, I really think there is not much separating Open Mind, Silverbulletday, Bold N' Determined, and Davona Dale.

I'm fairly solid with Susan's Girl #1, Princess Rooney #2, and Rags to Riches #3, and then Goodbye Halo #8, Lite Light #9 and Ashado #10. I respect Ashado, but she came from a weak crop and never really ran fast. Lite Light was sensational for about a 6 race span, but did nothing after her awesome Coaching Club score.

You now who is really flattered by this list? Bayakoa. Bayakoa ruined Open Mind's 10 race winning streak in 1989 by going to Open Mind's home track of Belmont and simply running her off her feet by 3.75 lengths. Bayakoa beat her again the same margin in the Breeders Cup Disatff.

Earlier in 1989, Bayakoa had been pitted in a "rivalry" with Goodbye Halo. Goodbye Halo won the 87' grade 1 Demoiselle and Hollywood Starlet at 2, beat Winning Colors in the grade 1 Las Virgines early in 88' before going on to win the Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club Oaks. At the end of 88', she ran a strong 3rd, as the forgotten horse, in the 88' Breeders Cup Distaff less than a length behind Personal Ensign and Winning Colors. She carried her form into her 4 year old season winning the grade 2 El Encino and grade 1 La Canada.

Then, Goodbye Halo ran into Bayakoa. Bayakoa beat her by 2 in the Santa Margarita (GHalo 2nd but 5.5 lengths clear of 3rd place horse), by 4 in the Apple Blossom (GHalo 2nd but 9 clear of 3rd place horse), by 4.5 lengths in the Hawthorne Cap (GHalo 2nd but 3.5 lengths clear of 3rd place horse), and 8.5 lengths in the Vanity (GHalo 3rd, 3.5 lengths behind 2nd place horse). Goodbye Halo got revenge when she won the Chula Vista as Bayakoa bombed and ran 6th, but Bayakoa beat her by 11.5 lengths in the Spinster (GHalo 2nd).

Bayakoa absolutely destroyed, in all but 1 race, 2 exceptional fillies. Open Mind and Goodbye Halo both won 7 grade 1 races, and had been close to dominant before meeting Bayakoa. However, Bayakoa made them look absolutely average. I have both Open Mind and Goodbye Halo near the bottom of the list, but I wonder if I'm being too hard on them. How well would Silverbulletday or even Rags to Riches would have fared against the pure speed of Bayakoa?

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

LACS70 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:33:35 GMT

Correction on my post: The Filly Triple Tiara is the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan, and the CCA Oaks. Got my stakes races crossed!

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

JW — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:07:52 GMT

Goodbye Halo smacked Winning Colors twice before the derby. Her connections picked the wrong race.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Tetrarch — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:22:18 GMT

Zarkava (et al.) is absolutely correct. These top four woulda beaten most anything these days with ease.

"Susan's Girl was the best, but Davona Dale, Princess Rooney and Bold n Determined are right there too. Too bad younger fans don't learn about the older generation of horses. Davona Dale was a monster who would have won the Derby. Princess Rooney was stellar and needs to get more respect. Bold n Determined was the best 3 yr old of her year. But Susan's Girl must be ranked at the top."

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Tonchuck — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:13:48 GMT

No way Silverbulletday or Ashado should be rated higher than Davona Dale, Princess Rooney and Bold N Determined. Rags to Riches is only 4th best.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Old Timer — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:24:29 GMT

This one was a great list and had some great comments. As noted by a few commenters, it is crazy to have Susan's Girl ranked as low as # 5. Maybe it's true -- you shouldn't let anyone under 30 vote! :)

Seriously, as one who had the chance to see Susan's Girl race a couple of times, she was one of the best. She, like Rags, beat the boys. Plus she stuck around and was a joy to watch for many years. Nevertheless, I had to put Rags #1 and Susan's Girl # 2 as winning the Belmont, the "Test of Champions" trumps all of the other accomplishments.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Zarkava — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:10:03 GMT

Susan's Girl was the best, but Davona Dale, Princess Rooney and Bold n Determined are right there too. Too bad younger fans don't learn about the older generation of horses. Davona Dale was a monster who would have won the Derby. Princess Rooney was stellar and needs to get more respect. Bold nDetermined was the best 3 yr old of her year. But Susan's Girl must be ranked at the top.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

LACS70 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:48:54 GMT

Davona Dale for one simple fact: She was the first filly to win the Triple Tiara - The Kentucky Oaks, The Black-Eyeed Susan, and The Acorn.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

AMY ROONEY — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:12:58 GMT

I HAD TO PUT PRINCESS ROONEY FIRST, BECAUSE HOME GIRL AND I SHARE THE SAME NAME. SECOND I LOVE GREY HORSES, AND THIRD SHE WAS A GREAT RACE MARE.

I HAVE SUSAN'S GIRL SECOND BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER HER, A LITTLE. I BELIEVE L. PICAY WAS HER JOCKEY. ALSO I BELIEVE RACES WERE TOUGHER THAN. THE WAY TRACKS WERE MAINTAINED, CONDITIONING, SUPPLEMENTS ARE ALL MUCH MORE SOPHISTICARED NOW. A HORSE HAD TO WORK HARDER TO WIN HEARTS, THERE WAS NOT HRTV OR TVG. THEY HAD TO WIN! I THOUGHT DAHLIA WAS THE FIRST MILLION DOLLAR MARE.

BUT I DID PLACE RAGS TO RICHES HIGH, HAVE TO GIVE HER A HIGH FIVE FOR NOT JUST WINNING THE BELMONT, BUT BEATING HORSE OF THE YEAR CURLIN. REMEMBER, WE ALL HAVE DIFFRENT CRITERIA OF WHAT MAKES A LASTING MEMORY.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Terry — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:46:23 GMT

Susan's Girl in front! One of the greatest race mares of the past 50 years.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

NightOwlaa — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:01:13 GMT

These lists always seem to have the most recent horses on top.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Scarletandgraypimpernel — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:37:32 GMT

First, IMHO, Go For Wand had to be the best filly not to win this race, at least in my memory.

I went with Davona Dale on top just because she did sweep the Filly TC her sophomore season.

Poor Goodbye Halo. Same crop as Winning Colors and the totally forgotten while only being beaten maybe a length in the greatest race ever.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

Determined Fan — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:50:37 GMT

I agree with ScottieG, where were you all in 1980. The filly that won the Derby, Genuine Risk, could not warm up Bold n Determined on Genuine Risk best day.

re: Top 10 Ky. Oaks Winners: 1970-Present

ScottieG — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:48:35 GMT

Bold n Determined was just that, she blasted her field that day and had an incredible year even beating Genuine Risk later in the year. She is perhaps one of the greatest racemares never to win a championship and danced every dance as a 3yos in 1980.