* Belmont Stakes - Smarty Jones 2004. The figure in defeat wasn't nearly as good as Ten Most Wanted's - but his trip was light years harder - and he ran an incredible race for over 10 furlongs before hitting a brick wall in the final furlong.
* Breeders Cup Classic - You have four performances in defeat that totally stand out head and shoulders above the rest.
Giant's Causeway in 2000, Medaglia D' Oro in 2003, Pleasantly Perfect in 2004, and Bernardini in 2006.
I didn't bet a single one of those four horses in those races - but it was pretty obvious concluding that Giant's Causeway ran at least as good as the winner, Medaglia D' Oro ran better than the winner in '03, the '03 winner PP ran extremely well with a totally impossible trip in a race that unfolded totally to Ghostzapper's benefit in '04 and Bernardini clearly ran the best race in the '06 Classic. It's too tough to split those four performances.
* BC Juvenile - Point Given in 2000. Came with an absolutely explosive finish to blow past Street Cry and just miss nailing Macho Uno for the win.
* BC Juv Fillies - Only 3 candidates. Composure just missed to an awesome 2yo filly in Storm Flag Flying. Final time was a hair faster than the Boys went in Vindication's Juvie win the same day and distance. In case anyone forgets Composure - her racing career was over after back to back Gr 1 wins in the winter at Santa Anita a few months later.
Imperial Gesture and Bella Belluchi are the other two options - both from the amazing 2001 field that produced a wicked fast final time. IG had a good trip and ran a huge number. Bella Belluchi was a soundly beaten 3rd - just ahead of You and Take Charge Lady. BB had some minor trip trouble and was stuck on what many felt was a dead rail that day.
* Breeders Cup Sprint - Swept Overboard's 4th place finish in 2001. Everything was against him in a race loaded with awesome sprinters who had much more favorable circumstances. He was beaten only a length with a 116 Beyer in a wildly underappreciated performance. He returned to Belmont one more time the following year and won the Met Mile by 5 lengths at 11/1 odds with a 122 Beyer.
* Breeders Cup Mile - Rock of Gibraltor.
* Breeders Cup Turf - Precious Passion or Milan. Take your pick.
* Breeders Cup Distaff - Surprisingly probably Hystericalady
* Kentucky Derby - Congaree easily. Hard Spun, Medaglia D'Oro, and Empire Maker distantly round this one out.
* Preakness Stakes - Take your pick. Either Street Sense with a 111 Beyer in a perfect trip hanging performance - or Sweetnorthernsaint in a 105 Beyer performance after he grabbed a quarter coming out of the gate and pressed a solid pace.
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