HRN Fans Rank Ruffian, Zenyatta Top Females

Ranking number one with a score of 9.13, Ruffian dominated the votes just like she dominated her rivals on the track.

The dark bay filly by Reviewer won all but her last start, but that one race in 1975 cemented her legacy for all time.

It was billed "The Great Match Race," with Ruffian, the undefeated 3-year-old filly, facing Foolish Pleasure, that year's Kentucky Derby winner in a battle of the sexes at Belmont Park.

Ruffian had a narrow lead from the gate and was drawing away from Foolish Pleasure when tragedy struck. Her powerful legs gave way, though it took all of the strength of jockey Jacinto Vasquez to make her stop running.

Despite valiant efforts by vets, Ruffian's firey spirit was her downfall - she re-injured herself irreparably during recovery.

It seems that despite her brilliant speed and the scores of track and stakes records she set, it is her last test that touches fans the most and reminds us how fragile these athletes really are.

Zenyatta, ranked second at 9.01, is remembered for her theatrics off the track as much as her thrilling come-from-behind victories in 19 of 20 starts.

The big, near-black mare with the tornado-shaped blaze won the hearts of America with her dainty pre-race prancing and pawing, and the Hollywood starlet poses she struck in the post parade.

Based in California with trainer John Sherriffs, Zenyatta was the ultimate synthetic specialist, though she also proved her talent on dirt.

She set new speed records in 3 of her races and broke a few other notable marks as well. Zenyatta won the BC Ladies' Classic in 2008, then turned around the next year and became the first female to win the BC Classic in 2009. She is the only horse to win two different Breeders' Cup races in the history of the championships. She also holds the record for consecutive Grade 1 stakes wins at 9 in a row, and is tied for most consecutive wins with 19.

She was a 3-time Eclipse Champion Older Female and 2010 Horse of the Year. As a media darling she was featured in the mainstream press as much as the DRF, even appearing on CBS News' 60 Minutes. Even in retirement she still thrills fans with her daily blog entries.

The rest of the Top 10 is a who's who of great fillies and mares.

Proving that racing loves its tragic heroines, Go For Wand ranks 3rd at 8.87. The champion juvenile filly of 1989, Go For Wand was nearly unbeatable in 1990, with only an upset loss in the Kentucky Oaks marring a stellar season. In the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic that year, she faced Bayakoa, the top older mare. Like Ruffian before her, Go For Wand fell victim to tragedy at Belmont Park, as she took the lead from Bayakoa. She was laid to rest in the Belmont infield and today there is a race run in her name.

Rachel Alexandra ranks 4th among HRN fans with 8.85. In 2009, she put together perhaps the greatest 3-year-old filly campaign ever. With easy victories in her spring preps at Oaklawn Park, Rachel Alexandra entered the Kentucky Oaks a big favorite. She destroyed the field, winning by 20 growing lengths. She then rattled off victories in the Preakness, the Mother Goose, Haskell Invitational and Woodward Stakes, defeating older males. Despite not running in the Breeders' Cup, Rachel's performances throughout the year were impressive enough to clinch the Horse of the Year title.

As a 4-year-old, Rachel Alexandra wasn't as dominant as she'd been the previous year, winning only twice in 5 starts. Still, her fans turned out to vote and pushed her into the Top 5 in the HRN poll.

In 5th with a score of 8.82 is Lady's Secret. Sired by the immortal Secretariat, the grey lady was a machine in the mid-1980s, rattling off a string of victories in major stakes across the country for then-newcomer trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Lady's Secret won the BC Ladies' Classic in 1986, as well as the Whitney the same year. She retired with 25 wins in 45 starts.

Twilight Tear is 6th in our poll at 8.81. She represented Calumet Farm in the heyday of the 1940s. As a 3year-old in 1944 she made 17 starts, winning 14, defeating both fillies and colts. She won the Pimlico Special, Acorn, Coaching Club American Oaks, Washington Park Handicap, and many more. Her exploits were so extraordinary that she was named 1944 Horse of the Year!

In 7th is Gallorette at 8.81. In her day, she was as famous as Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, and considered the greatest racemare of all. She won the Met Mile, the Brooklyn Handicap, Carter and Whitney in her career of 21 wins in 72 starts.

The speedy Princess Rooney ranks 8th with a 8.79 score. Undefeated in 9 starts going into the Kentucky Oaks, Princess Rooney won the run for the lillies in 1983. She was the winner of the inaugural Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in 1984.

War Admiral's best daughter, Busher, ranks 9th with 8.79. The champion filly was dominant against her peers, and even won the Arlington Handicap and Washington Park Handicap against males. She was a champion at 2 and 3, and also 1945 Horse of the Year.

Finally, America's first filly star ranks 10th at 8.77 - Regret. C.V. Whitney's fabulous filly began her career beating the boys at Saratoga in the Saratoga Special, Sanford and Hopeful. In 1915, she then made the long trip out west to Louisville where she became the first filly winner of the Kentucky Derby. In 11 starts, she had 9 wins, one second, and only one off-the board finish. What is most remarkable about Regret is that only 2 of her starts were in female-only races.

That's the Top 10! There are so many deserving fillies in our sport that it is impossible to rank them all high enough to their fans' satisfaction. This is also a chance to ask for help - many of the past champions have incomplete histories. If you have a Champions book or a stack of old DRFs, give us a hand and add to the wiki. As always, the voting is never really over here at HRN - keep starring your favorites each week. And who knows, the next Triple Crown winner could be a filly, and this list will be just a curious memory!