Rachel Alexandra is at the top of the stack when it comes to
discussions about gender and horse racing but she is far from being the
only female star in her field.
Earlier in the month steeplechase specialist Janet Elliot became the second woman and first female trainer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jockey Julie Krone first broke the barrier in 2000. So powerful and remembered is the all-time leading female jockey that a film about her career is in the works.
Another woman and another departure from the flats is Julie Miller. Last weekend Julie took the $600,000 Breeders Cup Open Trot at The Meadowlands. Lucky Jim was coming off a world-record-tying performance in his last start two weeks earlier. The 4-year-old gelding has won 17 of 18 starts in 2009 and has earned a spot in the ballot box for horse of the year honors.
Linda Rice is atop the trainer's standings at the Saratoga meet and remarkably has reached that spot from only 33 starts. The measure of that accomplishment can best be measured by viewing those chasing her; Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, George Weaver, Barclay Tagg, Gary Contessa, Anthony Duthrow, Kiaran McLaughlin, Steve Asmussen, Nick Zito, and on down a long list of trainers with deep rosters of horses. Just a few days ago Linda scored a victory in a maiden two-year old race with a filly--the daughter of Hook and Ladder left the colts wondering which way she went.
Kentucky-based, Helen Pitts-Blasi has brilliantly handled the career of the 7-year-old stakes-campaigner, Einstein. The handsome whole horse has five Grade I victories and has scored them on turf, dirt, and synthetic surfaces. He is presently ranked the number 2 turf horse in training and is heading next to the Pacific Classic in Del Mar.
Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs is the racing manager of the undefeated champion, Zenyatta. NYRA hopes to get the big mare to come to the Oct. 3 Beldame and to face Rachel Alexandra at Belmont, but the astutely managed closer may instead stay in CA and prep for the Santa Anita-based Breeders' Cup in Oak Tree's Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. 1) Oct. 10. What is best for the horse is what is best for the game in the long run and it's nice to know the connections of Zenyatta put the horse first.
In Europe the French-bred filly Goldikova continues to impress. She beat males in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile and has on more than one occasion whipped the boys across the pond. Most recently she defeated that sex in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Trainer Freddie Head is planning to bring her back to Santa Anita for another run in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Boys, beware!
Last week a grey streak came out of Canada to totally dominate the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes. Careless Jewel is trained by Woodbine-based Josie Carroll. Look for the independent-minded Tapit filly to mow down more opponents down the line and look for Josie Carroll to make the short-list of more owners.
Rachel Alexander stepped around what turned out to be a real gem in the Alabama by opting out of that race early. Her connections are also bypassing the Travers and opting instead to take on older males in the Woodward on September 5. Rachel could become the first-ever filly to win the Woodward. Jackson and Asmussen won the race last year with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. To say the filly is in good hands is a vast understatement and to learn that her security is delegated to Amy Kearns pretty well sums up where females are stacking up in the racing game.
Girl-power is steadily bringing fresh air to an industry that has not done so well making hay in a changing climate.
Another woman and another departure from the flats is Julie Miller. Last weekend Julie took the $600,000 Breeders Cup Open Trot at The Meadowlands. Lucky Jim was coming off a world-record-tying performance in his last start two weeks earlier. The 4-year-old gelding has won 17 of 18 starts in 2009 and has earned a spot in the ballot box for horse of the year honors.
Linda Rice is atop the trainer's standings at the Saratoga meet and remarkably has reached that spot from only 33 starts. The measure of that accomplishment can best be measured by viewing those chasing her; Todd Pletcher, Bill Mott, George Weaver, Barclay Tagg, Gary Contessa, Anthony Duthrow, Kiaran McLaughlin, Steve Asmussen, Nick Zito, and on down a long list of trainers with deep rosters of horses. Just a few days ago Linda scored a victory in a maiden two-year old race with a filly--the daughter of Hook and Ladder left the colts wondering which way she went.
Kentucky-based, Helen Pitts-Blasi has brilliantly handled the career of the 7-year-old stakes-campaigner, Einstein. The handsome whole horse has five Grade I victories and has scored them on turf, dirt, and synthetic surfaces. He is presently ranked the number 2 turf horse in training and is heading next to the Pacific Classic in Del Mar.
Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs is the racing manager of the undefeated champion, Zenyatta. NYRA hopes to get the big mare to come to the Oct. 3 Beldame and to face Rachel Alexandra at Belmont, but the astutely managed closer may instead stay in CA and prep for the Santa Anita-based Breeders' Cup in Oak Tree's Lady's Secret Stakes (gr. 1) Oct. 10. What is best for the horse is what is best for the game in the long run and it's nice to know the connections of Zenyatta put the horse first.
In Europe the French-bred filly Goldikova continues to impress. She beat males in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile and has on more than one occasion whipped the boys across the pond. Most recently she defeated that sex in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville. Trainer Freddie Head is planning to bring her back to Santa Anita for another run in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Boys, beware!
Last week a grey streak came out of Canada to totally dominate the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes. Careless Jewel is trained by Woodbine-based Josie Carroll. Look for the independent-minded Tapit filly to mow down more opponents down the line and look for Josie Carroll to make the short-list of more owners.
Rachel Alexander stepped around what turned out to be a real gem in the Alabama by opting out of that race early. Her connections are also bypassing the Travers and opting instead to take on older males in the Woodward on September 5. Rachel could become the first-ever filly to win the Woodward. Jackson and Asmussen won the race last year with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. To say the filly is in good hands is a vast understatement and to learn that her security is delegated to Amy Kearns pretty well sums up where females are stacking up in the racing game.
Girl-power is steadily bringing fresh air to an industry that has not done so well making hay in a changing climate.
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