Weekend Rewind: 2-year-old fillies emerging coast to coast

It’s no secret that this group of 2-year-old fillies lacked depth when the Breeders’ Cup rolled around. That fact showed itself even more glaringly when Moonshine Memories, the unbeaten favorite going in, finished a lackluster seventh, beaten nearly seven lengths by 17-1 shot Caledonia Road.

However, after this weekend, I am happy to report that my faith in the division received a big boost from some big performances. Two of those came from a couple big maiden winners.

First up was a bay filly by Bustin’ Stones, by the name of Miss Hot Stones. In her first two starts at Belmont Park, she came close to winning, finishing well clear of all but the winner. On Saturday, however, in her third start, Miss Hot Stones came sizzling home at Aqueduct nearly eight lengths the best. The final eighth of a mile in 13 1/5 seconds won’t blow anyone away, but after racing wide and sitting just off of blistering opening splits, it is definitely forgivable.

Fewer than ten minutes later at Churchill Downs, She’s a Gypsy, by Pioneerof the Nile, also found that third time was a charm when she cruised home, crushing her opposition by 12 ½ lengths. In her first two starts, She’s a Gypsy was her own worst enemy, breaking slowly from the gate. The habit likely cost her more ground than she could make up, but Saturday, that was made a thing of the past.

She’s a Gypsy broke sharply and this time around was able to stay in contention. Not far into the race, She's a Gypsy made a bold move that put the rest of the field in their place. From the half mile to six furlong call, She’s a Gypsy went from fourth to first in the blink of an eye. From there she extended her advantage before she was finally geared down.

As impressive as the performances by Miss Hot Stones and She's a Gypsy were, neither were more impressive than the one given by Testing One Two in Delta Downs' Louisiana Jewel Stakes.

How can a filly at Delta Downs shape up as impressive as those at Churchill and Aqueduct? She won a stakes race by 16 1/2 lengths.

The footnotes of the chart read “never asked." Her race was very similar to the performance that She’s a Gypsy ran in her maiden breaker, only even more commanding. What makes her performance all the more impressive is that her final time of 1:40.09 was the fastest recorded by any horse for the mile distance the entire weekend.

So, what did we learn this weekend? We learned the 2-year-old filly division may not be as weak as we originally thought. Keep an eye out for these three. Something tells me they'll emerge on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.