Eclipse Watch: Six Fillies to Watch During the Second Half of the Season
As we enter the first year after the “Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra” era, people are looking for the next mare to step into their shoes. But coming into the second part of the season, it looks like the mares are making a charge to grab another Horse of the Year title from the boys for the third year in a row.
Come with me as we look at six American mares that are worth watching for the rest of the season.
No. 6: Turbulent Descent
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Turbulent Descent was being touted one of the best three-year-olds of any gender before the G1 Acorn on Belmont Weekend. She finished second in the race and hasn’t finished any lower than that in seven starts.
She is a multiple Grade One winner (with one Grade One this year) and looks to impress for the rest of the year, especially as she matures.
No. 5: Plum Pretty
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Plum Pretty, or Plum Ugly as trainer Bob Baffert called her when she first entered his barn, did finish behind Turbulent Descent in the G1 Las Virgenes Stakes this year but she seems to have stepped up her game in the last few months.
In the Sunland Park Oaks, she not only ran a faster race than the boys, she also beat her field by 25 lengths. She then went on to capture the G1 Kentucky Oaks by a small margin the day before the Kentucky Derby in May.
She hasn’t run since her Oaks victory but it’s always an interesting day at the track when she races.
No. 4: Switch
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While Switch has a habit of sitting in the background when it comes to discussions, she does have quite the record, including the G1 Santa Monica Handicap this year. Switch is one of those mares that can sprint or run short routes and is fun to watch gut it out in every race.
The four-year-old mare finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (which seems to be her best distance) and there is little doubt she’ll return to the Breeder’s Cup again this year.
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No. 3: Blind Luck
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Last year’s Three-Year-Old Champion Filly Blind Luck hasn’t had much luck this year but it looks like her luck is once again changing.
Like Zenyatta, Blind Luck is a closer and is at the mercy of the pace in her races. But when she can close into what the field gives her, she’s amazing to watch.
She may only have two wins in five starts this year (with three seconds), but she’s one to watch for Eclipse considerations as we come into the second part of the year.
No. 2: Awesome Maria
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Awesome Maria may be known to Uncle Mo fans as his secret love but she’s also a filly that has kicked it into gear this year.
Maria really didn’t do too much last year other than a second in the G1 Gazelle Stakes and a first in an ungraded Riskaverse Stakes at Saratoga on the turf. But so far this year, she is four for four in graded stakes, including the prestigious G1 Ogden Phipps.
If ever there was a filly that stepped up her performances from three to four, Awesome Maria would be the example to use in this era. If the top females meet up this year, there’s no doubt she’ll be one to watch.
No. 1: Havre De Grace
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Havre De Grace has really matured this year, cleaning up in all three races she’s run in. Her name has also been heard in Horse of the Year whispers so far this year. With some very nice performances, it is no surprise people are thinking about her in that light.
While “Grace” is a bit more lightly raced than others on this list, trainer Larry Jones has said that she may face the boys this summer depending on her schedule.
With a weak male crop, the fillies and mares may be supporting the racing world’s American ride and so far, Havre De Grace looks like she may be this year's Queen if she can keep running as well as she's shown she's able to.
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