Cigar beat everyone who showed up for sixteen consecutive races. I know that is a trite way to argue the whole "who did he beat" debate, but it has to hold water.
I just don't feel the same way about Skip Away that many people do. When you mention him against Cigar I just immediately think Cigar was better, of course that's just a matter of personal opinion.
Ghostzapper is an interesting case in that when he got good, which was basically in his second career start, it almost seemed like no one could ever beat him. Think about the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic. That race included the 2003 Derby and Preakness winner fresh off a Jockey Club Gold Cup win, the 2002 Horse of the Year, the 2004 Belmont and Travers winner, the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic winner and the 2004 Whitney winner and other Grade I winners. Ghostzapper beat these horses like a drum.
I like the whole debate a lot, but I'm just not willing to say anyone was the best of the last 30 years. I'm glad we had so many that the discussion can continue.
How many of you think that if Street Sense wins out and then was able to have a 4 year-old campaign (which we know he will not so this is hypothetical) that he would garner some consideration?
NT
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