What About I Am Woman?

A fair question. The poor little filly has really gotten the short end of the stick with Fizzy Pop winning, Claiming Crown week, two new offerings and taking this blog over the airwaves eating up all of my time.

Owned in a partnership being run by VIP Stables, the national leader in harness racing partnerships, I Am Woman was purchased as a yearling with a lot of hope. I really expected great things by this Blissful Hall filly, but she didn't quite develop as hoped as a two year old. She's a little on the smallish side and so she sat out a few months and had some time to grow and develop before being brought back as a three year old. She had a tough go back at the Meadowlands and, after being RNA at the Meadowlands sale, she moved out to Chicago and tried to make a go at Balmoral where she reeled off three wins in a row and hope was renewed.

Sadly, that hope evaporated quickly when she headed back East to take on tougher competition in Pennsylvania. She dropped through the ranks at Pocono settling in at the $4,000 claiming level and still not hitting the board. A couple of weeks ago she shifted tack to Monticello Raceway and, after a lackluster first effort she put in a nice mile for a solid second place last Tuesday evening. The winner was much the best, but she was certainly the best of the rest. According to those who know more about Standardbred pedigree than I, Blissful Hall's tend to be late bloomers. I came close to auctioning off my percentage in her before that last effort. I hope that just wasn't a head fake on her part! I'll keep you posted as her next race comes up.

The Hambletonian

While we're on the subject of harness racing, it was a treat to see the Hambletonian, one of harness racings premier events, on NBC this afternoon. It was even more of a treat to see odds-on favorite Muscle Hill professionally dispatch a well thought of group of trotters to win his 13th in a row and tie and all age world trotting record in the process. Kudos to NBC for covering both the Hambletonian and the Hambletonian Oaks.