Northern Dancer - currently #9 - is another example of an outstanding race horse being overrated because he was a very successful sire. Northern Dancer was 3rd by 6 lengths to Quadrangle in the Belmont Stakes at 4/5 odds in his final North American start.
Quadrangle did come back to win the Travers and a lot of good races that year - but was trounced by both 7-year-old Kelso and Gun Bow at 1 1/4 miles in the Woodward - albeit he was 25 lengths in front of the 4th and 5th place finishers. He was also 3rd to Kelso beaten 11.5 lengths in that years Jockey Club Gold Cup. That time he was 16 lengths clear of several beaten horses behind him.
More interestingly though
You talk about a blood bath? Zenyatta would be lucky if she could stay within a football field of Swaps. Swaps was an underrated great horse - unquestionably top 10 all-time in my opinion.
Quote:
49. Barbaro
50. Easy Goer
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Barbaro never won an eclipse award - and only ran a single lifetime race that puts him on the TV screen with Easy Goer's typical race.