The Two Best Fillies

[Dgstan]

I'd love to see these two meet in the future. They are pretty much head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

Of course, I'm talking about Rachel and Careless Jewel

[Dgstan]

Was I really the only person who saw the Alabama? Careless Jewel was acting up before the race, looked rank during the race, tossing her head and never really settling down until the top of the stretch where she started to pull away to win by 6 wrapped-up lengths. A truly amazing performance.

[Dgstan]

Race notes:

Trainer Josie Carroll arrived back in Canada after her big win Saturday in the Grade 1 Alabama with Careless Jewel, thrilled with the gray or roan daughter of Tapit’s 11-length victory.

“It was an incredible performance, and she ran a tremendous race,” said Carroll, who has yet to make plans for Careless Jewel’s next start.

Her winning margin of 11 lengths was the third-largest in the 129-year history of the 1 1/4 mile race. According to the Bill Carberg at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Olitipa holds the record for biggest margin of victory with 20 lengths in 1895. In 1976 Optimistic Gal won the race by 16 lengths, the second-biggest margin of victory.

Careless Jewel, who entered the Alabama off a 7¼-length score in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks, broke sharply at the start of the Alabama but wound up pushed down toward the rail by Be Fair, who bore in at the start, and then was pinned inside by Don’t Forget Gil and Funny Moon. When the field entered the first turn, Be Fair cut to the rail and Careless Jewel took up sharply behind her.

“That horse sawed her off, and I thought she might fall,” Carroll said. “[Jockey Robert ] Landry did a tremendous job. Sometimes a horse, after that, will definitely go rank on you. He settled her and did a terrific job.”

The victory was Carroll’s first Grade 1 outside of Canada. She won the prestigious Queen’s Plate in 2006 with Edenwold. Carroll said she would meet with owners Vern and Donna Dubinsky later this week to map out plans for Careless Jewel.

http://www.nyra.com/saratoga/stories/Notes08232009.shtml

[Syncopate]

Knew you weren't talking about Rachel & Zenyatta. Somehow the Z lady became a MARE.
Seems many people forget that.