The HOY is basically given to the BC Classic winner unless a 3yr old can win the TC. Afleet Alex couldn't beat Giacomo in the big one so it is hard to give him HOY over the older horses.

He got what he deserved, the 3YO Eclipse, but personally I don't think he would have beaten Saint Liam even had he not gotten hurt. The 3yr olds were just a terrible group that year, so beating them doesn't really count for much in the HOY race.

No knock on AA, but he beat garbage in the Preakness and Belmont. Scrappy T and Giacomo were nothing special, and the Belmont was so bad a maiden ran third.