HALLANDALE, Fla. -- The second of this season's battles of the sexes was threatened yesterday when Three Ring, a leading 3-year-old filly, drew the No. 10 post for the $750,000 Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
After Three Ring's sensational, 14 3/4-length victory against fillies three weeks ago in the Davona Dale Stakes at this South Florida track, her trainer, Eddie Plesa Jr., said he might run her in the Florida Derby against males. This week, he said he had decided to -- as long as she drew an inside post position.
Yesterday, after she drew the 10 post in a field of 11, Plesa said he'd need a day to decide whether to keep her in against the males or pull her out in favor of the Bonnie Miss Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Tuesday at Gulfstream Park.
"I will consult with the owner and assess the field and then decide," said Plesa, based at nearby Calder Race Course. "We would like to run, but the post position didn't enhance our cause."
If Three Ring does race in the Grade I race at 1 1/8 miles, it will be the second showdown of the sexes on the road to the Kentucky Derby. Two weeks ago in the San Rafael Stakes at Santa Anita Park, the filly Honest Lady finished fifth against males, a mere one length behind the winner, Desert Hero.
Only three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby -- Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988. But several fillies this year and last have run faster than their male counterparts, including Bob Baffert's duo of Silverbulletday and Excellent Meeting.
Their date with males will have to wait, because they race this weekend against fillies -- Silverbulletday on Saturday in the Fair Grounds Oaks in New Orleans and Excellent Meeting on Sunday in the Santa Anita Oaks in California.
Here at Gulfstream Park, regardless of whether Three Ring runs or not, Vicar and Cat Thief, the one-two finishers Feb. 20 in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, are the morning-line choices at 3-1 and 4-1, respectively. Carl Nafzger, trainer of Vicar, was pleased with his colt's No. 5 post, although he said the 7 or 8 would have been ideal.
"What you always worry about into the first turn is horses pushing you down into a hole and your getting shuffled way back," Nafzger said. "But what's really good about this horse is he's got the speed to make everybody go really fast to get around him, or he can make everybody drop behind him. Anything they do, he can counter."
Seeking to rebound from his ninth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth, Aly's Alley drew the hard-luck 11 post. His trainer John Tammaro just shook his head. But in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Aly's Alley started from post 13 and, under deft steering by Edgar Prado, missed winning by a nose. On Saturday, Prado will ride again.
Pub Date: 3/11/99