I\'m with P-Dub on this one.
At this point, I think Frankel has done a horse-shit job with this filly. Does he really have her fully cranked to beat fields that they probably took for granted they could win with class? I haven\'t looked and don\'t know what the Beyer numbers or TG numbers are this year compared to last, but she\'s a large 8 to 10 points slower in the numbers I use.
In looking at the numbers, she\'s about 5-7 lengths slower than her last 2 outs at age 2. Early developer who suddenly lost interest in running, or does she still have that 5-7 lengths in her?
The one thing I have noticed this year, is she is having to run @ 2 lengths quicker to the first call, maybe because the 3 year olds are just a little quicker than she was used to last year. Her Late Pace numbers are pathetic compared to last year, @ 7 lengths slower. Same surface, same horse, etc.
As far as being wide into the stretch, she\'s always been at least 5w into the stretch in her last 5 Grade 1 wins. Nothing new there, putting Garrett up isn\'t gonna make her suddenly come up the rail, and if she does, it doesn\'t guarantee she\'s gonna be the winner.
Her winning margins are always 1.5 lengths, 1.25 lengths, a nose, so she isn\'t or hasn\'t been the type to win by a bunch of open lengths.
On paper, and off these first 2 races in \'09, yes, she looks totally beatable by some really good fillies. But, they better come to run because this little gal may not be ready to lose just yet.
Against the boys? Forget it... I am a fan of this filly and of Mike Smith, but I think she looks overmatched against Pioneer, Pamplemousse, and a half dozen of the better males on the West Coast.
I think the connections best stick with the fillies.