remember though, the difference between the best and the worst was far closer then than now. When 4000 TB's were registered every year the range of talents was small and going from non entity to star while rare was not unheard of.
First of all, even as late as Broker's Tip's win, the Derby was not the "be all and end all" of American racing. There was not a "race to the Derby or (forgive me Steve) a "Derby Trail." Winter racing was a rarity and as such most 3yo's were making their first or second start of the season when they ran in Louisville. Many were being pointed for important fixtures like the Belmont the American Derby or the Dwyer! Since the Derby was not the focus of the first 1/2 of the season, the race was rarely if ever overfilled. Running rabbits was popular and easy as the Derby was just another race.
The Triple Crown had not co-alesced at the time and when Gallant Fox won the TC, the Preakness was before the Derby. The schedule that we know as the TC was what it was because it followed the path from northward from farms in KY to MD to NY, geographically.
Even today though we see horses who are G1 placed maidens, Patriot Act and Nolan's Cat stand out from a few years ago. Both have turned out to be useful, but hardly stars. In fact Nolan's Cat is quite rare as he was a G1 placed maiden at 3, not 2. This ties to the "range argument" in that for 2yo's there are fewer running than the older population and the difference between a MSW at Belmont and a race like the Champagne or the Lane's End is relatively small.
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