Yes a great stretch duel, and lots of credit for Brad Cox for having Covfefe
ready and razor sharp for this assignment.

After the race, "Cox said the likely next step will be to allow Covfefe some
well deserved time off. Likely next starts will come in either the Breeders Cup
or December 26th La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park."

I realize that Covfefe might never race past seven or eight furlongs, but would
like to point out the following: In the last 52 years, seven fillies have taken
the Test Stakes and gone on to win the Alabama Stakes at 10 furlongs: (Addendum:
only Jeltrin was nominated for both the 2019 Test and 2019 Alabama)


2004 Society Selection
1992 November Snow
1991 Versailles Treaty
1990 Go For Wand
1974 Quaze Quilt
1973 Desert Vixen
1967 Gamely [sup]1,[/sup][sup]2[/sup]

So many reasons not to expect the Test/Alabama "double" ever to be captured
again. Changes in purse structure, big opportunities in the Cotillion and at
the Breeders Cup. A diluted thoroughbred gene pool where the better an equine's
bloodline, the more sparingly it is likely to be raced. Many top trainers
allegedly using PEDs and other magic bullets which require increased recovery
time. An enlarged stakes racing schedule which provides lucrative Graded stakes
opportunities 12 months a year.

No complaints though. I am resigned to a game which features more lightly raced
superstars, for better or worse. A new day dawns on Wednesday with the advent
of the "Rainbow" style Pick 6 at Saratoga. Steve Crist, who fought to keep the
minimum NYRA Pick 6 wager at $2, is probably not happy.

------------
[sup]1[/sup]Three of these fillies went on to win 3YO Filly of the Year honors:
Go For Wand, Desert Vixen and Gamely.

[sup]2[/sup] In the context of the Test/Alabama, time for my at least once
yearly mention of one of my all time favorite thoroughbreds, Gold Beauty. As a
3YO Filly, Gold Beauty won the 1982 Test Stakes and the 1982 Fall Highweight,
and was named Eclipse Award winning Sprinter. The speedy and diminutive Gold
Beauty produced Maplejinsky (winner of the 1988 Alabama). Maplejinsky went on
to produce Sky Beauty (winner of the 1993 Alabama). Gold Beauty also produced
Dayjur, who lost the Breeder's Cup Sprint to another great sprinting filly,
Safely Kept, when he jumped shadows near the wire.