Surviving hot and contested paces
 

What are some of the most memorable performances you have of horses surviving duels and contested paces to run great performances -- either in victory or defeat?

For instance, Holy Bull's Travers win is obviously a classic example of this in victory. Hooking a rabbit and refusing to let deep closing Concern by.

Rachel Alexandra's Preakness win where she went eyeball-to-eyeball early with future wire-to-wire Breeders Cup Sprint winner Big Drama early, and held off Mine That Bird's late rally.

Seattle Slew's defeat to Exceller where he hooked a rabbit and a monster effort at 12 furlongs.

In the old days, beating a top class field in this fashion was considered the truest test of a horse and these were viewed as the stallion making performances.

Here's a colorful description of what they called 'winning the hard way'

One of the most valiant sprint performances by a filly I ever witnessed was Xtra Heat in the Test Stakes on July 28th 2001

She got into a breakaway 3-way speed duel with Harmony Lodge and Secret Liaison at 7 furlongs at Saratoga ... had the race been 6.5f (you get a ton of run-up at that distance) the first quarter would have been 20 and change.

Notice how Xtra Heat's two pace rivals faired.

* Xtra Heat




* Harmony Lodge's Saratoga Form (21 Beyer)





* Secret Liason (-0 Beyer)






Future BC Sprint winner Orientate ran a 22 2/5 first quarter in a sharp wire-to-wire win at 6f that same day.

One of the greatest I ever witnessed was Spurious Precision.

2004 Woodward Stakes - Ghostzapper by a zap

affirmed and alydar went side by side thru most of the belmont. that was an amazing performance.


and carson hollow didn't survive the early lead she had in the test, but i thought her performance against you was amazing.

I remember that call "You is in tight"..........gotta love Durkin

Precisionist, 1985 Strub.

This is NOT how it is done!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUbnpreuD4Q

Wild Again's Breeders Cup Classic win...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1VbCecIKm0


Very impressive, but Princess Rooney went much faster in the Distaff.

You knew I would break this one out:

Spend A Buck's Jersey Derby and later that year holding off the elder Carr De Naskra in the Monmouth Handicap.

I like that Xtra Heat was coming off Beyers of 117 and 120 going into the BC Sprint and was still 17-1. Nowadays a horse with those numbers would (justifiably) be 3-5, filly or no.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...1433/index.htm


like where john nerud said 'no one horse could beat dr. fager' (emphasis is mine).

Silver Charm. Santa Anita Derby.

Roses in May's effort in the 2004 Whitney is often overlooked because of the hanger Perfect Drift. However, watching that race and looking at the chart shows you how that pace absolutely fractured the other horses who were even remotely involved in the early running. Peace Rules and Newfoundland, coming off a 1-2 finish in the Suburban, were beaten over 8 and 9 lengths respectively. Seattle Fitz, coming off a win in the Brooklyn, was beaten over 15 lengths.

I actually have that race as the top effort figure wise in horse racing since 2004 when pace is taken into consideration. It narrowly edged out Ghostzapper's Iselin the same year.

Hook and Ladder in the 01 Gulfstream BC Sprint Hdcp

Lil's Lad in the 98 Florida Derby..

I don't think I had the proper amount of respect for that race when it first occurred. It was a really, really good performance.

Sunday Silence's Preakness....One of those moments when you look back and wonder what could have become of a "clean" Patrick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c48c26AJAXY

or it'll make you wonder why day made that move down the backstretch.