The way I see it, you could have entered Havre De Grace in the Personal Ensign,
where she would have been 1/5 to romp against her own gender, winning her second
career Grade I, pocketing an easy $180,000. You could have had the privelege of
having your photo taken with a member of the Phipps family. HDG would have
carried 122 pounds, spotting her rivals from 2-6 pounds.
Instead, HDG turns up in the Woodward, where she will get a 3 pound spot from 7
male rivals, who have won a composite total of 2 Grade I stakes among them. Some
say HDG, with a win here, will be aiming to be the 3rd consecutive female Horse
of the Year (kind of a gender bending notion, no?).
Is this the toughest field she has ever faced?
Has she had much success outside of Delaware and Oaklawn?
Who has she beaten besides Blind Luck?
Thanks again, Mr. Porter, for adding much intrigue to the Saturday card.