Breeders Cup 2011 Entries: Filly Havre De Grace Set Up for Dominance

If it seems a little bit improbable that a filly could go out into the 2011 Breeders Cup field and dominate her competition, you haven't heard of Havre de Grace.

It would be a very improbable story, but if there's a horse out there that can do it, it would be this one.

In a field dominated by males, Havre de Grace finds herself as the No. 2 horse with the odds makers, and No. 1 on many favorite boards.

What is it about this filly that has inspired so much confidence?

Perhaps it's the fact that she's a winner.

The Associated Press via nationalpost.com reports more on her incredible year:

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"A victory Saturday would put Havre de Grace in strong position to be the third consecutive filly to win Horse of the Year, an honor claimed by Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.

Havre de Grace was named by Porter for the Maryland city and former racetrack located halfway between Wilmington, Del., and Baltimore on the Chesapeake Bay. The name means harbor of grace or mercy in French.

'Around here, we just call her Gracie,' trainer Larry Jones said.

She was third in last year’s Ladies’ Classic at Churchill Downs under a different trainer in the worst finish of her career. She is 5 of 6 this year, including a win against the boys in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 3, beating Classic contender Flat Out.

Her only loss this year was to Blind Luck by a nose in the Delaware Handicap in July.

'We think she’s the best she’s been all year,' Jones said.

Besides Uncle Mo, some of Havre de Grace’s biggest challengers in the Classic are Flat Out, European import So You Think, Game On Dude and Stay Thirsty."

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Perhaps it's her owner and trainer, Rick Porter and Larry Jones, who have seen their fair share of success, but also their fair share of heartbreak.

In 2008, Jones watched his filly Eight Belles run second place in the Kentucky Derby. She broke her ankles when she pulled up past the finish line.

Her death had critics calling for fillies to stick to racing against their own gender, and obviously it was a huge personal loss.

2011 brings a new horse and a new chance for the crew, and perhaps a chance at redemption.

The storyline, the emotion and the record is with Havre de Grace.

All she has to do is go out there and continue to dominate the field. As improbable as it may sound, I think she will.