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Originally Posted by miraja2
Very interesting and nicely-assembled list.
My one question is about this one. How close was it between Count Fleet and Citation (who I assume was second) in your mind? I take it you didn't hold it against Count Fleet that it took him a few races to get going.
I guess the same question could be asked in other divisions as well. When comparing Bernardini to, for example, Curlin or Rachel Alexandra how much do you count Bernardini's debut against him? Does it matter that he started off his 3yo season with a defeat in a MSW, or do you primarily just look at how good the horses were once they got going and were running at their preferred distances, etc.?
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Count Fleet's route races at age 2 were absolutely superior performances. I don't hold his early season sprints that much against him - a field of 14 and field of 16 for babies going 5f and 5.5f - the chart indicated he had trouble in both races and he finished 2nd.
I didn't hold Bernardini's debut against him that much - heck, for an A. P. Indy first-time-starter going 6f - it sure wasn't bad. I don't think he faced any serious competition at all - to say the least - until the Breeders Cup Classic ... which he would have certainly won with a competent ride .. and I say that as someone who bet against him in that race. I think Tiznow was the best 3yo of that decade. However, I held the fact that he missed the triple crown series and pretty much the entire first half of the season against him... more than I held Smarty Jones missing the 2nd half of the season against him. As we know, the first half of the season is made to be all about the 3yo division.