tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post116244691641744045..comments2024-03-05T05:38:22.024-05:00Comments on Left at the Gate: The ClassicAlan Mannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162501958900804892006-11-02T16:12:00.000-05:002006-11-02T16:12:00.000-05:00Secretariat's Preakness may have been the most inc...Secretariat's Preakness may have been the most incredible effort I have ever seen by a race horse. All the races mentioned in here are worthy, but that race took my breath away, and then he follows it up with a world record in the Belmont. NickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162488332196657282006-11-02T12:25:00.000-05:002006-11-02T12:25:00.000-05:00Btw, it's worth pointing out that David Junior has...Btw, it's worth pointing out that David Junior has beaten better horses than anyone else in the race, namely Pride and Ouija Board. A couple of mares, go figure. Strange case of a 15/1 shot holding the class edge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162487729555917162006-11-02T12:15:00.000-05:002006-11-02T12:15:00.000-05:00David Junior remains a huge question mark on dirt,...David Junior remains a huge question mark on dirt, but he's been training on polytrack for a good long time, and i'd have to imagine he turned in a very nice furlong or two @ the Fasig-Tipton sale a couple of years ago. Nick's 100% right, it's not the smae as doing it in a race, so we'll see. But i think the difference in price between he and horses Lava Man/Invasor more than makes up for it. Incidentally, i think Lava Man's ability to handle a non-California surface is just as big a question as the David Junior thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162484956545701802006-11-02T11:29:00.000-05:002006-11-02T11:29:00.000-05:00RE Sun King,While it is true he stopped badly in a...RE Sun King,<BR/><BR/>While it is true he stopped badly in all three starts over 9 furlongs, he was ridden differently back then. <BR/><BR/>Now that he has adopted a rate and close style which should fit this race perfectly. The distance remains a question mark for sure, but i thought he was best in the key prep race so I have to include him.<BR/><BR/>Mr. EdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162483026184398082006-11-02T10:57:00.000-05:002006-11-02T10:57:00.000-05:00My top 5 were:1. Personal Ensign's Distaff.2. Af...My top 5 were:<BR/><BR/>1. Personal Ensign's Distaff.<BR/>2. Affirmed/Alydar in the Belmont.<BR/>3. Secretariat's Belmont.<BR/>4. 1998 Belmont...I realize Real Quiet and Victory Gallop weren't great horses, but there was a triple crown on the line, a thrilling finish, and the visual of the stretch run was even more impressive then Personal Ensign because there were no other horses in between.<BR/>5. 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup - Two Triple Crown winners get into a speed duel and run the first 6F of a 1 1/2 mile race in 1:09 and change, and Exceller comes from 22 lengths back to catch them at the head of the stretch...and then somehow Seattle Slew is able to battle him for the lead the length of the stretch. I think this is probably the greatest LOSING effort in the history of American racing, and probably the best race of Seattle Slew's career. If you've never seen the video of this race, go watch it. There's a site with it up...I think its www.championsgallery.com <BR/><BR/>Honorable mention to Easy Goer vs. Sunday Silence in the Preakness.<BR/><BR/>- AlexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162480538368488692006-11-02T10:15:00.000-05:002006-11-02T10:15:00.000-05:00>>What do you consider the 5 'best' races since 19...>>What do you consider the 5 'best' races since 1970 (chosen because that's when I was born)? I've been thinking about this a lot lately and will post my picks later...but basically the races I chose generally fit the criteria of "great horses performing well in situations with historical importance".<BR/><BR/>OK, I'll bite on that.<BR/><BR/>1) Personal Ensign's Distaff...the greatest race I've ever seen without being there.<BR/><BR/>2) Affirmed over Alydar in the Belmont...the greatest race I've ever been to.<BR/><BR/>3) Secretariat's Belmont<BR/><BR/>4) Forego, carrying 137 pounds, rallies to catch Honest Pleasure at the wire of the 1976 Marlboro Cup. He was conceding him 18 pounds.<BR/><BR/>5) Ferdinand nips Alysheba in the 1987 Classic in a matchup of Kentucky Derby winners. When will we ever see the likes of that again?Alan Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12570505944559196118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162477976750808192006-11-02T09:32:00.000-05:002006-11-02T09:32:00.000-05:00One last question for everyone. What do you consi...One last question for everyone. What do you consider the 5 'best' races since 1970 (chosen because that's when I was born)? I've been thinking about this a lot lately and will post my picks later...but basically the races I chose generally fit the criteria of "great horses performing well in situations with historical importance". - AlexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162477842180801242006-11-02T09:30:00.000-05:002006-11-02T09:30:00.000-05:00Another question. I saw on one of the TBA blogs (...Another question. I saw on one of the TBA blogs (can't remember which one) that some horse in Australia may run in big races 4 days apart, and it seemed to be implied that this was considered fairly typical over there. Anybody have any insight into this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162477733525516332006-11-02T09:28:00.000-05:002006-11-02T09:28:00.000-05:00I think if he wins easily Saturday, its safe to sa...I think if he wins easily Saturday, its safe to say that Bernardini has proven himself to be one of the top 50 or 60 horses ever. What's sad is that assuming he's retired we'll never know whether he's good enough to be in the top 10 or 20, although he certainly looks like he could be. Its interesting to note that from about 1900-1920 most of the great racehorses ran less than 15 career races, just like today. Anybody know why? - AlexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162476064941422052006-11-02T09:01:00.000-05:002006-11-02T09:01:00.000-05:00To Skip, I did'nt say he WAS a once every 30 years...To Skip, I did'nt say he WAS a once every 30 years horse, I said he looked like one. And the days of a horse really proving himself are over. It's a new game now, they dont carry weight, they dont try different surfaces as a rule, they dont ship to go head to head with the best around. So in today's game Bernardini may well be declared a great horse by the standards of todays game. Hey the two best horses I ever saw are dead. Dr Fager and Secretariat. So put me in the "I long for the old days" category too. But this is todays game and 4 year olds, high weight handicaps are like the Beta Max, the Yugo and MC Hammer, a thing of the past. And what's with all the love for Sun King? A horse who's best races have never been at this distance. He tops out at mile and eighth and probably likes one and sixteenth better. NickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162475297091877992006-11-02T08:48:00.000-05:002006-11-02T08:48:00.000-05:00One comment about David Junior, I dont care if he ...One comment about David Junior, I dont care if he is bred to handle the dirt or not, racing horses goes beyond breeding. Horses are creatures of habit, and David Junior has never developed the habit of having dirt thrown back at him. And he is sure to have some dirt heaped on him in here. The BC Classic is the last place to find out how he will handle that. Anyone remember Starcraft (NZ) last year, the images of him galloping in the morning on the main track with a horse in front of him kicking dirt in his face? That owner supplemented that horse to the tune of 250000(?) to find out what everyone else already knew. BC day is not the day to be asking your horse to do something he has never done before. NickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162475144802129762006-11-02T08:45:00.000-05:002006-11-02T08:45:00.000-05:00Can not add anything to your analisis except to sa...Can not add anything to your analisis except to say that historically this race has been fair to all geographic areas and running styles. The best preps have been the Woodward and Goodwood, which is the only angle you can apply that would eliminate Berny. I will instead use it to try to hit the triple.<BR/><BR/>I love Berny and, while it might shorten the winning marging, I think if they want to they can go straight to the front, duel the greatest claim ever into defeat, and still hold off the rest of this bunch. <BR/><BR/>I hate the Euros and agree Lava Man likely will fade after seeing Berny's butt draw off in front of him. Invasor is very unlikely off a layoff.<BR/><BR/>I tried to make a case for the Californians and, besides pure speed figures and listening to TVG announcers, the only way I could do so was by noting Super Frolics surprising 4th place finish last year. Since then, all shippers out of Cali have not classed up, so leaning toward the Woodward for the remaining exotic slots.<BR/><BR/>Sun King is my exacta horse, race sets up for his late run, thought he was much the best in the Woodward, patient jock over did the patience thing riding much too confidently.<BR/><BR/>Premium Tap and Suave (5th beaten 3 lenghts last year) begin the third slot on the ticket, and for a price will lob "horse for the course" Giacomo and Super Frolic (4th beten 3 lengths last year) underneath as I could envision either clunking up for third if the race falls apart after Berny blows the prime contenders away. <BR/><BR/>I hope ESPN keeps the battle for second in the picture at Bernardini runs away in the stretch.<BR/><BR/>I cant beleive I am rooting for the Sheikh's horse over the everyman story, but I too feel I have been in the presence of greatness, so...<BR/><BR/> "Go Bernardini!!!!!!!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162474756710665782006-11-02T08:39:00.000-05:002006-11-02T08:39:00.000-05:00Even if he wins this race, I don't know how anyone...Even if he wins this race, I don't know how anyone can say he's a a "once in 30 years" kind of horse. <BR/><BR/>Let me be clear, I don't hate him, I like him alot. But I think a sample of 9 races is too few to declare him Horse of the New Century. I just look at him in the same area as a Ghostzapper or Mineshaft who had great years, were great horses... but that no one is talking about today.<BR/><BR/>I agree with Alan, unless he runs as a 4-year old (or unless he blows the hoofs off of everyone on Saturday) I'm not sure we'll ever know that he's "the one." <BR/><BR/>A question: What if he only beats Perfect Drift by a head instead of the field by 10 lengths? Is he the new-Secretariat then?Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06801414754458604594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8711985.post-1162473923152894982006-11-02T08:25:00.000-05:002006-11-02T08:25:00.000-05:00Over heard coversation between Lava Man and Bernar...Over heard coversation between Lava Man and Bernardini. Lava Man. "I'm gonna kick your ass." Bernardini. "Well you're going to have a real good view of it from the quarter pole, home." I read the inevitable "length of stride" article last week on Bernardini. Secretariat, 24.8 feet, Bernardini, 26.4 feet. Urban myth or fact? I don't know, forget the competition where Bernardini is concerned. Look at the effort, or ease there of, and he looks like a once in every 30 years horse. His detractors are hanging on to the "wait till they look him in the eye" theory. That's fine, but what do they do when Bernardini looks back? NickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com