It's been documented that he took advantage of a bias -- but General Assembley's Travers was one of the fastest figures ever from a 3yo.
He won the Travers by 15 lengnths over a wet racetrack -- in a track record time that still stands at Saratoga today.
* Smarten (off of 6 straight clear wins - 5 of which at the Graded Stakes level - and often giving weight) was 2nd by 15 lengths. He came back with five straight Graded Stakes placings in his next five starts.
* Private Account (a multiple Grade 1 stakes winner. Famously sired two hall-of-famers in Personal Ensign and Inside Information -- and was one of the great broodmare sires I've ever seen) was 3rd by 26 lengths.
* Davona Dale (A champion filly who won 5 Grade 1's that year and won the Kentucky Oaks by 4.5 lengths in 1:47.20 in her other sloppy track start that season) was 4th by 28.75 lengths. She was beaten 3.5 lengths in the Maskette next out.
* Steady Growth (The Queen's Plate winner and a next out 2nd in the Prince of Wales one week later) King Green (a next out ALW winner at Belmont a few weeks later) and Screen King (multiple Graded Stakes winner, never ran again) --- this trio was all beaten 30+ lengths.
General Assembly 128
Smarten 107
Private Account 91
Davona Dale 87
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ok1e0Yez_s