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Originally Posted by basement bob
i have to agree. smith had to check him at least twice, and definitily took the long way around, i'd say he was the best horse in the race
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I'd have to 100% disagree with anyone making this statement. Rachel Alexandra was head over heals the best horse in this race.
All you have to do is look where the other horses that were running with her in the beginning of the race finished. She ran real strong fractions and still one. Big Drama is the only one who could stay around and he still finished about 6 lengths behind her... Fresian Fire was up on the pace, he is supposed to be a real nice horse... and he backed WAY up in the stretch.
Mine That Bird, while having to check and go wide the final turn (Rember Rachel also had to go wide the first turn).. just loped along for the first 6 furlongs... I dont think his trip was as difficult as Rachels and I also think there should be no question that he was only the 2nd best horse in that race.
Even if he had a perfectly clean run at rachel on the final turn he's not going to beat her IMO. He may have been a half lenght closer but thats all. Rachel was not letting him by.
And if you are going to say, "what if" MTB had no problems around the final turn, you also have to say "what if" Rachel had been able to relax and set more reasonable fractions?
Like Danzig said, its a mute point anyway.