Fillies in the Kentucky Derby

Fillies in the Kentucky Derby

By USRacing Team

In 2020, despite pressure from fans and handicappers, the connections of the two best fillies in the 3-year-old division – Swiss Skydiver and Gamine – resisted pressure and temptation, skipped the Kentucky Derby and they instead faced off in Friday’s Kentucky Oaks. Neither won, both going down to Shedaresthedevil. The odds to win the Derby were against them anyway as only three fillies in history have captured the Run for the Roses — Winning Colors (1988), Genuine Risk (1980) and Regret (1915). Each raced against males before the Derby, too, while Winning Colors and Genuine Risk are the only two fillies to compete in all three Triple Crown races. Winning Colors finished third in the 1988 Preakness Stakes and sixth in the 1988 Belmont Stakes, while Genuine Risk finished second in both the 1980 Preakness and Belmont.

A total of 40 fillies have run in the Kentucky Derby and six were post-time favorites. Among them were Regret and Calumet Farm’s Nellie Flag, who finished fourth in 1935. The coupled entry of the filly Prudery, who finished third, and the colt Tryster, fourth, was favored in 1921. The entry of Althea (19th) and Life’s Magic (eighth) was favored in 1984, and the entry of the filly Serena’s Song (16th) and D. Wayne Lukas-trained stablemate Timber Country (third) was the post-time favorite in 1995.

A filly hasn’t started in the Derby since 2010 when Devil May Car finished 10th and no fillies will run this year.

Fillies in the Derby, with year and finish position:

Devil May Care: 2010, 10th

Eight Belles: 2008, 2nd

Excellent Meeting: 1999, 5th

Three Ring: 1999, 19th

Serena’s Song: 1995, 16th

Winning Colors: 1988, 1st

Life’s Magic: 1984, 8th

Althea: 1984, 19th

Cupecoy’s Joy: 1982, 10th

Genuine Risk: 1980, 1st

Silver Spoon: 1959, 5th

Misweet: 1945, 12th

Gold Seeker: 1936, 9th

Nellie Flag: 1935, 4th

Mata Hari: 1934, 4th

Bazaar: 1934, 9th

Oscillation: 1932, 13th

Alcibiades: 1930, 10th

Ben Machree: 1929, 18th

Startle: 1922, 8th

Prudery: 1921, 3rd

Careful: 1921, 5th

Cleopatra: 1920, 15th

Regalo: 1920, 15th

Viva America: 1918, 3rd

Regret: 1915, 1st

Bronzewing: 1914, 3rd

Watermelon: 1914, 7th

Gowell: 1913, 3rd

Flamma: 1912, 3rd

Round the World: 1911, 6th

Lady Navarre: 1906, 2nd

Pike’s Pride: 1883, 6th

Ada Glenn: 1879, 7th

Wissahickon: 1879, 9th

Early Light: 1877, 8th

Lizzie Stone: 1876, 6th

Marie Michon: 1876, 7th

Ascension: 1875, 10th

Gold Mine: 1875, 15th

 

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