I have never thought that Rags to Riches gets the credit she deserves. She didn't have the flash of Rachel and didn't have the undefeated record that Zenyatta has and didn't put up the dazzling figures in her wins. But she did win five of seven races and was injured in the last one. Four grade ones in those seven races and she did beat the boys in a Classic. Seems like everyone remembers Winning Colors and Rachel doing it but forget that Rags did it too. And even though she didn't beat older males like Rachel did, she did beat two boys in her Belmont that both beat older males later in the year, suggesting that perhaps she could have done so too. And while everyone gives Rachel extra credit for beating the boys three times and Zenyatta was the first female to win the BC Classic, in the four races combined that those two won against males, none of them beat a horse as good as Curlin. People forget that he was named HOY in the year that she beat him and even though he was a mere 3yo like she was, I'll take that, especially the way she beat him by outgaming him in the lane, over beating Macho Again. Just because Macho Again was older didn't make him better. Hell, didn't every 3yo in the country beat Macho Again last year? I know Summer Bird and Quality Road got him in NY and then Blame and Misremembered got him in Kentucky. Rags is probably one of the more underrated horses in the past 10 years.

I also really appreciate a guy like Hollendorfer. He's not afraid of those big, bad, scary Rockies and keeps shipping her over them to run. You've got to appreciate the fact that the Cotillion is next on her schedule, even though the risk/reward is completely out of her favor. With Devil May Care also possibly being there, Blind Luck HAS to beat her again in order to maintain her position at the top of the 3yo filly leaderboard. If DMC were to win, even though they'd be tied, I guarantee that she'd become the new leader. It's like in college football. Ohio St. can beat Michigan 31-0 and win the Big 10 title but if they finish 1-2 in the polls and meet in the national title game and Michigan wins 21-20, they are the champion. Call it what have you done for me lately. Plus, and let's be honest, there is an eastern bias when it comes to the Eclipse Awards. So with very little to gain and much to lose, I give a lot of respect to Hollendorfer and hope Blind Luck is rewards him for his decisions. He could easily sit at home or look for an easier spot somewhere else. Then, for good measure, after this he plans on shipping again for the Distaff. I wish he'd bring a glass of Northern California water down to Southern Cal and let John Shirreffs drink from it. It must contain high levels of courage.