Post by Neco on Jan 15, 2016 20:26:28 GMT -5
Seeing Stars Triple Tiara Trail 2016
It's not just the boys that have a Triple Crown - the fillies have their own! Welcome to the third running of the Triple Tiara, a set of three races aimed at fillies that copy their male counterparts - the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the Acorn Stakes. They're all run the day before the Triple Crown races, and the Kentucky Oaks is arguably the most important race for 3yo fillies in the United States.
Just like we're doing with our Kentucky Derby lead up, we'll be copying how the real fillies do it and will be hosting a series of preps to allow your girls to accumulate enough points to reserve a coveted spot in the Kentucky Oaks on May 6.
Only 14 fillies will be eligible to enter the gate on Oaks Day, which will be decided by the amount of points a horse has on the day the race opens. No preference will be given regards to post positions - all posts will be decided via Random.org and the weather and track conditions of the day will mimic what is happening in the real Kentucky Oaks on May 6.
NOTE - Any filly is allowed to participate! Graded horses will be given a higher impost (weight) to carry in any preps and TT races they choose to enter in order to help level the racing field. If you feel that any of your horses are good enough, enter our preps (also limited to 14 starters per race) and take your chance at racing immortality.
Here's how we'll be running things:
Point System
1st - 10 pts
2nd - 4 pts
3rd - 2 pts
4th - ? - 1 pt
Similar to the new system implemented this last year on the Derby Trail, points will be the deciding factor on who makes it to the starting gate. I don't know what the cut off will be at this point, as I have no idea how many horses will participate, so I'd suggest you enter every prep you can in order to get enough points to guarantee a spot!
NOTE - All preps and TT races are on DIRT. Please keep that in mind when entering your horses!
2ND NOTE Points toward the Kentucky Oaks DO NOT count toward the Kentucky Derby, if you decide to run your filly in both series, and points for the Kentucky Derby DO NOT count toward the Kentucky Oaks. If you have a horse that ran in the 2011 - 2015 TC/TT series, it will NOT be eligible for the Triple Tiara (Kentucky Oaks, Black Eyed Susan and Acorn) in 2016. In real life, only 3 year old fillies are allowed to compete and you're only a 3yo once! This is to give all horses that are and will be on SS a chance to compete. Please check the post below if you are unsure if your horse competed in any previous year.
List of Preps and Dates
Silverbulletday Stakes (8 Furlongs) - January 22
Davona Dale Stakes (8.5 Furlongs) - February 5
Las Virgenes Stakes (8 Furlongs) - February 19
Gulfstream Park Oaks (9 Furlongs) - March 4
Fairground Oaks (8.5 Furlongs) - March 18
Ashland Stakes (8.5 Furlongs) - April 1
Gazelle Stakes (9 Furlongs) - April 15
These preps count ONLY for the Kentucky Oaks - because the Oaks is a select gate of the best of the best, the point system was developed to give the horses that won the biggest preps and the most races a guaranteed spot in the starting gate. Though no filly is less deserving than another, only the top 14 equine athletes on the circuit will earn a berth into the gate on Oaks Day.
For the Black-Eyed Susan and the Acorn, it is an open call for any filly. If it's your dream to become own a Classic winner or to steal the Tiara for another year, any filly you own, regardless of prep points or wins, may enter either or both of these races.
Triple Tiara Races and Dates
Kentucky Oaks (9 Furlongs) - May 6
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (9 Furlongs) - May 20
Acorn Stakes (8 Furlongs) - June 10
All races will be open for ONE WEEK and then run if the minimum of 6 horses are in the gate. There are seven preps but points are limited. If you feel like you won't be able to enter certain races but want to, please PM me and I'll be happy to handle any horses you'd like.
Does your horse have what it takes to become a Oaks winner and perhaps even a coveted Triple Tiara immortal? Athena Watchover made history last year after becoming the first Triple Tiara winner on SS, while also taking the Preakness Stakes from the boys in between. Is there another filly out there that can live up to her legacy, or will we once again feel the crush of what could have been?
