Battle of the sexes in racing

Lost in all the finger pointing following the tragic breakdown of Eight Belles in the Derby is that fillies and mares have done well in limited opportunities against males in top American races over the past 25 years. The most obvious examples are Winning Colors in the Derby and Rags To Riches in the Belmont. But there are many more. Lady's Secret and Personal Ensign each won the Whitney in their respective Horse of the Year campaigns. All Along shipped to North American in the Fall of 1983 and went on a tear, winning the Rothman's at Woodbine, the Turf Classic, and the D.C. International on her way to Horse of the Year Honors. Estrapade was victorious in the 1986 Arlington Million and Oak Tree Invitational. Serena's Song won the Haskell and Jim Beam in 1985.

Fillies and males have especially shined against their male counterparts on Breeders' Cup Day. Pebbles won the 1985 Turf. Miss Alleged took top honors in the Turf in 1991. The Mile has been won by females five times: Royal Heroine (1984), Miesque (1987 and 1988), Ridgewood Pearl (1995), and Six Perfections (2004). They have done almost as well in the Sprint. Very Subtle won the Sprint in 1987, followed by Safely Kept in 1990, and Desert Stormer in 1995. Worth mentioning is that females have finished second in a remarkable eight runnings of the Sprint.

Interestingly, fillies and mares have been most successful against males in the big American events when those races have been sprints or on the turf.