Today's 3-year-old filly races saw the continued development of a contender for the divisional leadership. They also revealed the relative weakness of the Northeastern filly contingent. While Cathryn Sophia took another major step forward to challenging Songbird's claim to the crown in the Davona Dale Stakes (USA-II), Mo d'Amour had more the look of the best of a weak bunch in the Busher Stakes (USA-L).
In fairness to Mo d'Amour, she would have had to run as if her tail were on fire to come home in a decent time in the Busher after the first 6 furlongs went in a dawdling 1:14.05. She didn't even run as if it were smoking a little, taking about 33 seconds to negotiate the final 5/16 of a mile. Even over a track that clearly wasn't playing any too fast, that isn't reassuring regarding her ability to take on fillies who have proven they can run much faster without breaking a sweat. While her win today continues a nice run for her sire Uncle Mo, who now has four 2016 stakes winners and is well out in front in the second-crop sire standings, Mo d'Amour would have to make considerable progress to be a serious Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-I) contender.
Cathryn Sophia, on the other hand, is already there. She is coming along the old-fashioned way, stretching her distances out a little at a time, and so far she has answered every test with careless ease. Today's performance was so effortless that there are now calls for her to step up and take on the boys, just as for Songbird following her Las Virgenes Stakes romp (USA-II).
For now, it appears that her connections will decline that challenge, just as Songbird's are doing. It may not be what all the fans want, but surely the prospect of seeing these two undefeated fillies collide in the Kentucky Oaks is mouthwatering enough---and challenging enough if they really are the best 3-year-olds of either sex in the country as some are claiming. If they're that good, they will undoubtedly get the chance to prove it further down the line. In the meantime, we can all sit back and enjoy the show.
In fairness to Mo d'Amour, she would have had to run as if her tail were on fire to come home in a decent time in the Busher after the first 6 furlongs went in a dawdling 1:14.05. She didn't even run as if it were smoking a little, taking about 33 seconds to negotiate the final 5/16 of a mile. Even over a track that clearly wasn't playing any too fast, that isn't reassuring regarding her ability to take on fillies who have proven they can run much faster without breaking a sweat. While her win today continues a nice run for her sire Uncle Mo, who now has four 2016 stakes winners and is well out in front in the second-crop sire standings, Mo d'Amour would have to make considerable progress to be a serious Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-I) contender.
Cathryn Sophia, on the other hand, is already there. She is coming along the old-fashioned way, stretching her distances out a little at a time, and so far she has answered every test with careless ease. Today's performance was so effortless that there are now calls for her to step up and take on the boys, just as for Songbird following her Las Virgenes Stakes romp (USA-II).
For now, it appears that her connections will decline that challenge, just as Songbird's are doing. It may not be what all the fans want, but surely the prospect of seeing these two undefeated fillies collide in the Kentucky Oaks is mouthwatering enough---and challenging enough if they really are the best 3-year-olds of either sex in the country as some are claiming. If they're that good, they will undoubtedly get the chance to prove it further down the line. In the meantime, we can all sit back and enjoy the show.
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