My take:
Top 5 overrated since 2000
1) Zenyatta (no-brainer here)
2) Lost in the Fog (clearly held top spot until 2 strong years of Z-nation pushed her over the top)
3) Bernardini (very talented and a productive 3yo....but people talked about him as if he had actually beaten somebody).
4) Pepper's Pride (People talked about her. Some even liked her. She didn't deserve any of it.)
5) Smarty Jones (I was a fan too....but people got carried away).
Top 5 underrated since 2000
1) Invasor - Undisputedly better than others who have received way more hype and praise.
2) Birdstone - The 2004 Belmont wasn't just some bizarre fluke. On a dry surface he was a good colt.
3) Medaglia Doro - Tended to come in second in the "big" races....but aren't the Travers, Whitney, Donn etc, also pretty big races?
4) Perfect Drift - Became an internet punch line late in his career, but he was a very good 4yo who continued to be competitive at the top level for the next 2-3 years.
5) English Channel - It will probably be awhile before another American turf horse puts together a 3-year run of that quality. Despite GPK's best efforts....I still think he's underrated.
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