Road to the triple crown
The road to the Triple Crown for She’s A Maneater started on September 24 2016 when the she made her debut over five and a half furlongs (1,100m), a race she easily won by 14 lengths in an eye-catching time of 1:05.3.
Then came the start of the Supreme Ventures Limited Two-Year-Old series of three races, and She’s A Maneater added to her stocks — winning the first over six furlongs (1,200m) in 1:11.3 on October 15 2016.
The second race in the series over seven furlongs (1,400m) was on November 26 and She’s A Maneater again delivered in style, winning by six lengths in a time of 1:26.0.
Then came the finale in the series, the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes over a mile (1,600m) on December 27. It was then that She’s A Maneater tasted defeat for the first time in her career, losing by three-parts of a length to the onrushing Sotomayor.
She’s A Maneater’s juvenile career ended with four starts, three wins, and a second. She was acclaimed as the top two-year-old filly and was the first runner-up in the category of top two-year-olds losing out to Sotomayor.
She’s A Maneaterstarted her three-year-old campaign in 2017 as early as January 28, racing in a Restricted Stakes non-winners of three others where, for the first time, she competed against older rivals at a distance of seven furlongs (1,400m). It was a walk in the Park for the filly as she won by eight and a half lengths while recording a time of 1:25.4.
The major prep race for the 1000 Guineas, the Thornbird Stakes on March 18, was next on the filly’s agenda. Racing again over seven furlongs, She’s A Maneater encountered difficulties and had to come from way off the pace after suffering traffic problems. She was just able to nip Money Magnet for the win. This race showed that she was endowed with a strong temperament, and it also reaffirmed her undoubted class and talent. Her winning time in the Thornbird was 1:25.1.
The 1000 Guineas (one mile – 1,600m) on April 8 was no problem for She’s A Maneater as she won by an ever-advancing four lengths, defeating Bilingual and Money Magnet. In the Guineas, She’s A Maneater posted a time of 1:39.0.
Shortly after her first Classic win in the 1000 Guineas, She’s A Maneater, while preparing for the Jamaica Oaks (10-furlongs) on April 29, sustained an injury while on the exercise track, forcing her trainer to pull her from the Oaks.
She’s A Maneater was rested for three weeks while under the care of her veterinarian, and slowly the process of rebuilding and getting back into shape to race again started. That time came on June 3 at the Open Allowance level over a mile against some seasoned horses.
That race was her Derby prep and She’s A Maneater answered in emphatic fashion, winning decisively by four lengths in a time of 1:38.2.
The Boom Jamaica Derby (12-furlongs – 2,400m) on June 24 saw many pundits questioning her ability to stay the trip. In probably her most profound statement on the racetrack, She’s A Maneater, after being interfered with at the top of the straight, was able to gather herself and still found enough to withstand the challenges of Marlene My Love and the late wisp of Sotomayor. The winning time was 2:32.4 — the best time in over 25 years in the Derby.
The 1000 Guineas and Derby wins have now placed She’s A Maneater on the cusp of attaining Triple Crown glory.
We will have to wait till Saturday to find out.