South Ozone Park, NY, January 27, 2009--The news that juvenile filly champion Stardom Bound is pointing for the Grade 1 Las Virgenes on February 7 at Santa Anita as a prelude to her run in the Santa Anita Derby in April is welcome news.

But the notion that her primary objective of the spring is the Kentucky Oaks seems disingenuous on its face. Why run against the boys unless your aim is to beat them? And she won’t make an all-time list if she happens to beat them at Santa Anita.

Sorry, wrong Derby.

So, let’s be honest. The real goal for Stardom Bound is the Kentucky Derby. In these times, you don’t spend $5.7 million on a filly, even a champion, to win the Oaks.

At this point, beating up on more West Coast fillies isn’t going to prove much. Been there. Done that.

Which is why Zenyatta should have run in the boys Classic and not the Ladies Classic, but that‘s another story.

The history of the IEAH folks who bought Stardom Pound is one of making astute purchases. See Big Brown and many of the other Grade 1 winners that made them the leading owner in that category in 2008.

But with Big Brown and Rick Dutrow and a miserably failed Triple Crown attempt came all the attendant negative publicity, and the IEAH group, fairly or unfairly, became the outfit that turf writers enjoyed beating up on the most.

Given the history of last year’s Kentucky Derby and the tragic accident involving the filly runnerup, Eight Belles, who could blame Michael Iavarone and all the others if they don’t wish to answer those kind of questions for the next three months?

“Don’t you think that fillies are at a physical disadvantage against males?” “Given what happened last year, do you think it’s a good idea?” “Aren’t you afraid another accident like last year’s would be the kind of calamity that would kill the game forever?”

We’re not going to pretend these aren’t valid questions. But here’s a few others.

“Aren‘t there circumstances when racing females against males is permissible?” “Don’t certain body types, or running styles, mitigate the perceived risks?”

“Is the defense that breakdowns are an unfortunate part of the game no longer tenable?” “Is the sport going to run scared the rest of its days?”

Real questions that deserve real answers.

There’s a history of celebrated fillies that have become a special part of racing lore mostly because they beat males: Shuvee. Affectionately. Winning Colors. Priceless Gem. Genuine Risk. Rags To Riches.

So it’s been done here before, just like it’s done everywhere else in the world.

Foundation; soundness; superior ability. Satisfy those parameters and running fillies against colts is not dangerous.

However, the mainstream press that covers the Triple Crown doesn’t appreciate this. And ambitious columnists looking for a fresh angle won’t care and will sound an alarm anyway.

And, as for groups such as PETA, any organization wishing to call fish “sea kittens” should never be taken seriously ever again. If the industry can’t win that battle, how can it ever expect to survive?

The thing we know about Stardom Bound at this point in time is that she is in the conversation when someone wants to know who the “best,” or “most talented,” or “classiest” three-year-old is.

Further, she has the right body type and Derby style. A strong, late finisher who runs turns well; the stress factor is reduced significantly for rally types. And she gets a five-pound head-start, too, 121 vs. 126.

The one fear observers have is that fillies who try to do too much to compete with males, and over-achieve as a consequence, force themselves beyond their physical limitations.

Ruffian’s ability to match strides with Foolish Pleasure was beyond her limitations. She couldn’t race within herself and beat a Kentucky Derby winner. She was hell-bent-for-leather speed. Those types are never easy on themselves.

Not like Stardom Bound, who runs hard only after you flip on the switch.

Of the leading two dozen Derby horses that have raced a mile or farther as late-season juveniles or early season sophomores, only three have run the same better final figures on the Equiform performance-figure scale.

Her temperament, style, ability and class notwithstanding, Stardom Bound's greatest Derby attribute is her juvenile foundation: Five starts, two around two turns, both resulting in dominating performances.

Getting her started in February, then seeing if she passes the colt test in the Santa Anita Derby gives her two Derby preps, just the way new trainer Bobby Frankel likes it. If something happens in the interim, the Oaks on the same weekend would be a great fall-back position.

But considering this filly’s talent, that’s all the Oaks should be. If the Derby were run tomorrow, Stardom Bound would be no worse than third choice in the betting. That, too, makes her worthy and capable of success on racing’s greatest stage.