Abel Tasman might have been fully extended to win Saratoga's Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks over Elate after making a wild early backstretch move to the front, and then surviving an objection from the runner up. But she won it. And because she won, Abel Tasman now presents an interesting dilemma in the 3-year-old filly division.

In the Santa Ysabel last March, Abel Tasman for an instant looked like she might take the measure of the highly talented Unique Bella, until Unique Bella decided she had indulged Abel Tasman enough and turned her back not just with complete authority, but also with disdain. The Santa Ysabel left no question as to who the better filly was, and it was Unique Bella by a substantial margin.

The thing is, Unique Bella has not raced since the Santa Ysabel due to a shin injury, though she is on her way back to action. In the meantime, Abel Tasman has won the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, the Grade 1 Acorn, and now the CCA Oaks.

In almost any year, that would be more than enough to carry the 3-year-old filly championship. And maybe it will be this year, too. But anyone who saw the Santa Ysabel knows that as accomplished as Abel Tasman is - and she is very accomplished - she has not yet demonstrated that she is even in the same league as a healthy Unique Bella.