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Originally Posted by JJP
The only reason Highland Blade beat them both was that Cordero rode the race like a match race and both SOG and BM went wide while Highland Blade scraped the paint at the rail with a perfect trip. As for not winning those big 3 YO race, he probably was best in both the Belmont and Travers.......battling thru 1:11 and change in a 12 furlong race would be just about anyone's undoing and then a head and head battle thru 1:10 1/5 in the Travers and he still was only beaten less than 2 by a perfect trip Play Fellow.
This horse had a damn good two year run.
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In fact once the Slew Crew figured out he ran better from off the pace he blossomed. He ran with a rabbit called Mugatea. Slew had a habit of really being rank early and Angel had no choice but let him run. It definitely cost him the Belmont and Travers. I'm always a bit iffy on the Marlboro Cup of 1983. Highland Blade was 10-1 and not highly thought of. Angel knew Bates Motel would come wide. I'm not a big fan of second guessing the ride, although Sidney Watters said it wasn't worth the jocks fee.
The most ironic thing is Angel always said he would have chosen Slew O'Gold to ride in 1982 instead of Slewpy, but the Taylor's and Hills thought Slewpy had the most promise. Slewpy just hated Aqueduct.