What About Eden's Moon???

The discussion over the last few weeks leading up to this weekend’s G1 Alabama Stakes has centered around the theme of clarity, or more specifically, how the Alabama Stakes will give more clarity to the 3-YO Filly division. Lined up to contest the mile and a quarter race are Grade 1 winners Zo Impressive and Questing and Grade 2 winners Grace Hall and In Lingerie. Sea Island, Uptown Bertie, and Via Villaggio are no slouches either, with the latter two having Grade 3 victories to their name. Without a doubt this is a loaded field, and whoever has their picture taken at the end will be a deserving victor. But I have to ask, what about Eden’s Moon???
 
 
Like a few other horses this season, the regally bred Eden’s Moon (Malibu Moon—Eden’s Causeway, by Giant’s Causeway) has quietly put together a season worthy of year end honors. With the exception of a poor showing in the G1 Kentucky Oaks, the bay daughter of Malibu Moon has not finished off the board in any of her other career starts. She has notched a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 victory along with a third in another Grade 1 race and a second in a Grade 2 race. Oh yea, and did I happen to mention that she is also entered to start in this weekend’s G1 Del Mar Oaks? She’s the second choice on the morning line, and only the equally talented Lady of Shamrock stands between her and morning line favoritism. So again I ask, what about Eden’s Moon?
 
 
What I think is that this is simply another case of East Coast bias rearing its ugly head. I mean no offense to the super talented fillies lined up to contest the Alabama, but the West Coast has some heavy hitters, too. The plus side to some of these fillies is that they are versatile and race on dirt, synthetics, and turf; Eden’s Moon has wins on dirt and turf this year. Aside from having wins on two different surfaces, her connections made the trek across country to run their filly in the Kentucky Oaks. She did not run well that day after being taken up at the first turn and then bumping with Amie’s Dini, but she and her connections showed up to give it a try.
 
 
So yes, this weekend will give some clarity to the 3-YO filly division, but Eden’s Moon simply cannot be left out of this discussion. She has already proved that she belongs at the top of the division, and if she were East Coast based, a lot more people would probably be talking about her. With her main competition coming from Lady of Shamrock, the Del Mar Oaks can only add more luster to her 2012 record if she continues to run to form. So what about Eden’s Moon? Don’t overlook her when discussing the 3-YO Filly division!

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