Filly

Forget The Sopranos. Must-see TV last weekend was the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the most emotionally satisfying Triple Crown series in years. A combination of excellent equine athletes, colorful supporting players and the sheer unpredictability that is horse racing produced a show that gave the sport so important to Maryland a shot in the arm. And, OK, this isn't really about girl power - except perhaps in the most literal sense. But when Rags to Riches dueled Preakness winner Curlin through the Belmont's closing stretch to become the first filly to win the mile-and-a-half classic in 102 years, the nearly three decades without a Triple Crown winner suddenly didn't seem to matter so much.

Elmont, N.Y. -- At the start of this week, the Belmont Stakes was looking a bit bedraggled and seriously in need of some oomph. The oomph arrived in three-time Grade I-winning filly Rags to Riches, a femme fatale who will take on the biggest, strongest 3-year-olds in the country Saturday. Her trainer, Todd Pletcher, said she has everything she needs to do it, too, from an outstanding pedigree to a beautiful head and "keen, smart eye." "She's a really, really wonderful filly," said Pletcher, who was at Belmont Park yesterday for the post-position draw.

Trainer John Servis insists he would not have been out of place taking his filly Jostle to the Breeders' Cup gathering Saturday at Gulfstream Park.But a virus forced him to put his prize filly on the sideline and send her to Laurel Park for yesterday's $100,000 Grade III Selima Stakes. It was bad news for the rest of the field.The Philadelphia-based trainer watched with satisfaction as Jostle coasted to a 4 1/2-length victory, her third in four lifetime starts. She covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 52.16 seconds.

Her name means a South American tango, not a pie topping. And before Merengue could register a stakes win yesterday at Laurel Park, she had to do some dancing, the bump and grind, down the shadow-streaked homestretch.A 4-year-old filly seeking her third straight stakes score, Merengue (pronounced Mer-ENG-gue) surged into the lead early in the $75,000 Maryland Racing Writers Handicap. She led the parade of seven fillies and mares into the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile race until Proud Run, a 5-year-old mare based at Fair Hill, threatened on the outside.

Rills shot to the front, maintained that position around the turn and into the lane, then pulled away to win the $50,000 Contrary Rose Stakes by four lengths yesterday at Laurel Park.The 3-year-old daughter of Clever Trick, trained by Graham Motion and ridden by jockey Alberto Delgado, covered the six furlongs in 1 minute, 9 3/5 seconds. Passeggiata rallied to finish second, passing heavily backed favorite Godmother as the fillies approached the wire. Godmother finished third. Rills paid $12.20 and topped a 4-7 exacta of $63.40.

The steel-gray filly broke first from the gate, but for the rest of the race there was nary a peep from Mary Bo Quoit.The 3-year-old thoroughbred nicknamed "Miss Piggy" started strong, faded quickly and finished fifth in her debut yesterday at Laurel Park.One of four first-timers in the eight-horse field, Mary Bo Quoit generally held her own with the other novices, finishing ahead of two of them. She was 13 lengths back in the six-furlong race in what was considered a fast time (1 minute, 10 4/5 seconds)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Silverbulletday may have run her way into the Preakness with a two-length victory yesterday in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.Before a record crowd of 101,034 on a gorgeous, sunny afternoon, the 3-year-old filly showed again why she is one of the most exciting horses in America. As the 1-9 favorite, she swooped into the lead on the far turn and glided down the stretch for her 10th victory in 11 races.All her races have been against fillies. In the winner's circle, owner Mike Pegram was asked whether she might tackle the males in the Preakness.

Does the word walkover ring a bell? It wasn't exactly the situation in which no one wants to challenge a lopsided favorite who is awarded victory by default, but Silverbulletday's gallop through the Grade II, $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes yesterday was about as close as it comes.Mike Pegram's filly showed why she was undoubtedly of Triple Crown caliber by running away from six rivals and setting a stakes record of 1 minute, 47 4/5 seconds for 1 1/8 miles. The winning time was just three-fifths of a second off the track record held by Private Terms.

By winning yesterday's $100,000 Twixt Stakes at Laurel Park, Carnival Court accomplished a long-range goal for trainer Katy Voss.For many months, it looked like it wouldn't happen.Back in January, before Carnival Court had ever won a race, Voss had eyed this August race of 1 1/16th mile for many reasons.First, it was restricted to Maryland-bred, 3-year-old fillies, which Carnival Court is; second, it offered a generous purse; and third, the race had personal meaning. Voss trained Twixt, a 15-time stakes winner for whom the race was named.

Hal C. B. Clagett's Valay Bullet bolted to the lead at the start, surrendered the front to Mz. Ann on the turn, then fought back to win the $50,000 Primonetta Stakes by a nose yesterday at Pimlico.Valay Bullet completed the six-furlong distance over a fast track in 1: 11 1/5. Valay Bullet paid $18 and headed a 6-4 exacta of $65.80. Valay Bullet earned her seventh win in 22 career starts and improved her earnings to more than $173,000."My filly gave me all she had and she really dug in," said jockey Greg Hutton.

Two-thirds of the way through, the emerging story of horse racing's Triple Crown has been reduced to this: The filly that no one expected against the gelding that no one knew. Now the question is, will a sport that needs a shot in the arm get that new marquee matchup when the Triple Crown moves to Elmont, N.Y., for the Belmont Stakes in three weeks? Chip Woolley Jr., who stunned the racing world with Mine That Bird's 50-1 long-shot victory in the Kentucky Derby, endorsed the idea Sunday morning after Rachel Alexandra's history-making run in the Preakness.

Ann Quasman, the host of a Baltimore talk-radio show aimed at women, isn't exactly the world's biggest horse racing fan. But she's bursting with excitement - and feminine pride - over Rachel Alexandra, the filly competing against history in today's Preakness Stakes. Quasman and many others predict the "girl horse" will defeat the boys. "Girl Power at the Preakness!" Quasman trumpeted yesterday on her Twitter account. "Whenever you have something that happens for women, no matter what shape they come in, that's unusual," the host at WCBM-AM (680)

Hold your horses. While Saturday is all about that big race at Old Hilltop, there are several other Preakness-related events around the area. So if you're looking for a few fun, festive and far-out things to do before and on the big day, here are some suggestions: Sunrise at Old Hilltop Witness the calm before the crowds descend upon Pimlico Race Course. From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday, visitors can enjoy an escorted tour of the Preakness Stakes Barn, a chat with a trainer and a view of the horses going through their morning workouts.

A little country music, a big helping of sunshine and a couple of hard-charging fillies ushered in the Pimlico Race Course season Saturday. Blind Date, a 3-year-old filly who was in eighth place at one point in the $50,000 Hookedonthefeelin Stakes, came flying from the outside in the stretch to dash to a 1 3/4 -length victory for her third win in four outings. And after a "halftime" concert by country singer Darryl Worley, Princess Nyla, a 4-year-old filly, bolted in front at the top of the stretch to post a 4 3/4 -length win for local trainer Chris Grove in the 1 1/6 -mile, $50,000 Geisha Stakes.

Less than a week after the death of filly Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby, The Jockey Club said yesterday it is forming a committee to study thoroughbred safety and make recommendations to improve the industry. Chairing the seven-member committee will be Stuart S. Janney III, whose parents owned Ruffian, who was bred at their Maryland farm Locust Hill. The Hall of Fame filly was euthanized in 1975, when she broke her leg while leading a match race against Foolish Pleasure at Belmont Park.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Eight Belles was grabbing all the real estate she could as she pounded down the front stretch in a long-striding effort to catch the amazing Big Brown as he streaked toward victory. It was a race Big Brown would win by 4 3/4 lengths, but Eight Belles had shown her stamina and determination, and the 157,770 fans at Churchill Downs for the 134th Kentucky Derby went crazy as the favorite and the only filly in the race came home 1-2. And then the unthinkable happened. As Eight Belles galloped out around the first turn, she stopped, went to her knees and then collapsed on the track.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- --From the dawn of time - when Adam forgot to put the seat down back behind the Tree of Knowledge - the battle of the sexes is a rivalry that has played out over and over. Joan of Arc, Gloria Steinem, Billie Jean King, Hillary Clinton, Danica Patrick. And now, galloping in their trailblazing footsteps is a beautiful 3-year-old girl named Eight Belles. On Saturday, the filly will take on a field of 19 boys in the Kentucky Derby. You should see her - tall, proud, sturdy.

Forget The Sopranos. Must-see TV last weekend was the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the most emotionally satisfying Triple Crown series in years. A combination of excellent equine athletes, colorful supporting players and the sheer unpredictability that is horse racing produced a show that gave the sport so important to Maryland a shot in the arm. And, OK, this isn't really about girl power - except perhaps in the most literal sense. But when Rags to Riches dueled Preakness winner Curlin through the Belmont's closing stretch to become the first filly to win the mile-and-a-half classic in 102 years, the nearly three decades without a Triple Crown winner suddenly didn't seem to matter so much.

Elmont, N.Y. -- At the start of this week, the Belmont Stakes was looking a bit bedraggled and seriously in need of some oomph. The oomph arrived in three-time Grade I-winning filly Rags to Riches, a femme fatale who will take on the biggest, strongest 3-year-olds in the country Saturday. Her trainer, Todd Pletcher, said she has everything she needs to do it, too, from an outstanding pedigree to a beautiful head and "keen, smart eye." "She's a really, really wonderful filly," said Pletcher, who was at Belmont Park yesterday for the post-position draw.

Trainer Ned Allard looked at the names of the horses running in the $100,000 Gala Lil Stakes yesterday at Laurel Park and knew his entry, Friel's for Real, was going to be in for a fight. "I thought, `There's no monster in here, but it's going to be very, very competitive,' " said Allard, whose 6-year-old filly by Sword Dancer fought down the stretch to overtake Silmaril and beat her to the finish by a head. "I hate to see a horse run that hard and not win," said Ryan Fogelsonger, who rode Silmaril, trained by Chris Grove.