Girls' rule!

Is there ANYONE who is using Beth Harris' AP story AND leaving the two-word lede intact?

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BC-RAC--Preakness, 5th Ld-Writethru,1199 
Rachel Alexandra wins Preakness by 1 length 
Eds: ADDS new 5th graf with reference to Triple Crown. Moving on general news and sports services. 
AP Photo PIM115, PIM219, PIM117, PIM218 
By BETH HARRIS Ž
AP Racing Writer Ž

BALTIMORE (AP) — Girls rule!
The best 3-year-old in the land just happens to be a filly named Rachel Alexandra.
Jockey Calvin Borel all but guaranteed victory in the Preakness Stakes and, boy, did she deliver, becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.
A rangy bay — as big as most of the horses she beat — Rachel Alexandra shot to the front Saturday and wasn’t seriously challenged until a late close by Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.
By beating him she ended any chance that thoroughbred racing would have a Triple Crown winner this season. Affirmed was the last Triple Crown winner in 1978.

 

I almost posted this on another thread.

I left it intact, mainly because I'm being forced to get out early and I didn't feel like rewriting the lead.

I'm curious as to what folks thought, though.

 

I had to move quick, too, but just started with the second sentence. Reads fine.

 

Good point. I should've changed that. Oh well.

 

If it was me, I might be rewriting the first two sentences, and would consider the third as well.

 

We ran it, but I didn't lay out the front. Other person on the desk thought "it was cute." Gotta pick and choose your battles, I suppose.

 

Third graph makes it sound like the jockey, Calvin Borel, is a woman -- and a horse. Just noticed that.

 

Me too. I'd go with the second sentence as the lead if in too much of a hurry. That's not good.

 

Glad I wasn't the only one to cut that lede.

 

Hell, I'm just glad she got the optional done before deadline, considering how late the Kentucky Derby optional rolled in.

 

I'd have changed it ...

to "Boys drool."

 

I changed it to "Chasing tail."