Many of this month’s Breeders’ Cup races are open to horses older than three. That gives us a chance to see 4-year-old Lawyer Ron matched up against the likes of Curlin and Street Sense at the Classic.

Do the ladies age as gracefully? Sometimes. Check out last year’s World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, where the top three females were all mares: Pride (age 6), Ouija Board (age 5) and Alexander Goldrun (age 5). Ouija Board won the Breeders Cup’ Filly & Mare Turf in 2004, placed second in 2005, and won again last year in her first season as a mare.

But two years ago, the top four females were fillies, led by Divine Proportions. And this year’s top lady is almost certainly going to be Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, another 3-year-old. But she’s off the circuit with a hairline fracture, leaving the Distaff field wide open for fillies and mares alike.