So you also feel that he's the best horse in the last 40+ years?
That is what is being contended.

You need to calm down. One I don't have daddy's money, I just have a very good job. As for EC v SU, you are a complete baffoon if you think I am being serious. I love SU because I know the horse personally and one of the guys that is living with me this summer while he is working in NY has known him since he was born. When a Strategic Mission has as much success as Showing Up has, that is a major accomplishment. Sorry he isn't out of one of Lanes Ends 50K stallions like Smart Strike and some Theatrical mare.

Right now Showing Up has a long way to go before being in the league with English Channel. SU is coming along incredibly well though. It would not be a shock if he won the Turf Classic against the EC's and Caciques. None of those horses that just keep taking turns beating each other has proven to be exceptional. Winning against the Europeans though is highly unlikely for SU this year, but his 4yr old year is another story.

He is no Barbaro, but he is a nice replacement.

Isn't it though? I post on another message board and I will not go into another Bernardini thread there. As I stated there many times, I am not comparing him to the greats yet, I'm not giving him the Eclipse, I'm not doing anything but enjoying how GOOD this horse is. Over there, it's like pulling teeth to get people to admit that this is more than just a nice horse. Oh, who did he beat (and Barbaro beat a bunch of Man o'Wars in his Derby?)? Just wait until they get a fast track, Sunriver never had a chance (like he would have had a chance anyway)! He hasn't set any track records (like Barbaro has?), etc...................

Frankly, if I want objective analysis, I'm going to check out the racing experts at DRF and the like. Poor Bernardini can not do anything right in the eyes of racing fans. Ok, even if you think Bold Ruler is wrong by thinking he's the "greatest since.........".......what's the big deal? I'm tired of the qualifiers on this horse. I love him, I was stunned by the race yesterday and I'm going to enjoy watching him. He's a gorgeous horse who floats over the track.......he's versatile, which he's not getting the credit for (he won on the lead yesterday!), etc.......Right now, I don't care about HOY or the 3 year old Eclipse or comparisons to all-time greats (which I think is obviously premature at this point). Bernardini MAY become great - he's got the talent, for sure - can't we just enjoy it? I thought that this is why racing fans like racing?

No arguments on that, I'm enjoying it. I was actually expecting him to walkover that field yesterday, just the way he did. It was comical to watch how he was galloping effortlessly then to look back 6-8 lengths to see the rest of the field in full drives, jockeys all over their mounts with the stick, and abolutely no gain on the leader. I also don't understand the immediate need to try to figure out where he ranks in terms of all time greats. I'm perfectly happy to wait until his career is over for that discussion.

betsy, barbaro didn't beat a bunch of man o wars--but he faced what so many said is the best derby field assembled in YEARS. so many as in trainers and writers who have been in the business for decades.

i gotta say, the person who seems to be doing the most babaro vs bernardini comparisons is you. not sure what other board you go to, and i don't know how it is there, but over here is not over there...and i haven't seen any posts in the last 24 hours knocking bernardini. altho there have been plenty that have been over the top about him.

everyone said it was a great performance yesterday. most of us are in awe over his effortless win. now, just because some of us aren't ready to hand him hoy doesn't mean that's a 'qualifier'. i never try to place a horse anywhere in racing lore until after he's done. no one knows what this guy will do next. or when he faces older, or what he'll do at four, if he stays in training--so there's no way to say where he fits. that's for history to decide.

Well, you're probably right, Danzig. I really should just leave Barbaro out of it; unfortunately, he and Bernardini will never face each other, so what's the point?

I'm not referring to any posts as "let's not hand him HOY yet" as qualifiers, because I agree - I just want to make that clear. Maybe I'm a bit defensive because of what I've seen on the other board; if so, I'm sorry. This has become my favorite board and I can come here to expect knowledgable and fun discussion of racing. As for Bernardini, I just want to enjoy him now -if he's going to be a great horse, then we'll see it on the track; he's just a baby and has a lot of racing to do.

i hope you're right that he still has a lot of racing to do. it's always enjoyable to watch a horse do things like what he did yesterday. a rare year this year for sure.

Bernardini is awesome, hard to see him losing unless Strong Contender brings his A game and something goes amiss with the Jim Dandy winner.

I think Bernardini would have been better served running across the street at the Buggy track, he would have had more competition and gotten more out of it. Those horses behind him looked like donkeys in heat.

Don't put words in my mouth. All I said is I can't believe people still have doubts about this horse's ability (he beat nothing, blah blah blah)..

This is the best 3-year-old in a LONG, LONG time. And when it's all said and done, he may become the best HORSE in a long, long time.

On another note, he's gonna be 1/20 in the Travers.. It'll be hilarious.