Top Thoroughbreds (2000 to present)

[Calzone Lord]

In 1999, Bloodhorse produced a 'List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century' rating horses who competed from 1900 through 1999.

The list was assembled by a 7 person panel made up of two racing secretaries, two stewards, and three writers (Jay Hovdey, William Nack, and Jennie Rees)

The list was so badly flawed in a lot of ways... but it could have been a lot worse.

Only 2 horses who raced at all from 1900 through 1912 made the top 93. Colin (#15) and Sysonby (#30)

Hermis was a very odd exclusion from the top 100. Hermis was the Horse of All Ages (or Horse of the Year) in both 1902 and 1903 -- and he was the retrospective champion handicap horse of 1904. He won the single most important race of his day (The Suburban Handicap) in front of over 50,000 people in stakes record time. He also won the Travers and a lot of other important races as well over a career that saw him win 28 of 55 career starts.

Historically , these ratings have come down to nothing more than impressions, press focus, win/loss records, and success in famous races.

The 3-year-old male division has always been the glamor division...and there has been nothing at all glamorous about its leaders since 2000. Other than Zenyatta, this will likely be an utterly forgotten about collection of horses when any lists are compiled in the year 2099.


Here are my current rankings for the top horses by division from 2000 to present based on North American form.


2yo Male: Uncle Mo, War Pass, Macho Uno, Stevie Wonderboy
2yo Female: Tempera, Storm Flag Flying, Halfbrideld, My Miss Aurelia
2yo Turf Male: Barbaro, Peace Rules, Interactif, Cowboy Cal
2yo Turf Female: Dreaming of Anna, J'Ray, Fantastic Filly, Winter Memories
2yo Male Sprinter: Officer, Came Home, Afleet Alex, Roman Ruler
2yo Female Sprinter: Cashier's Dream, Beholder, You, Hot Dixie Chick,

3yo Male: Smarty Jones, Tiznow, Point Given, Bernardini
3yo Female: Rachel Alexandra, Rags To Riches, Blind Luck, Royal Delta
3yo Turf Male: Kitten's Joy, Conduit, High Chaparral, Rock Of Gibraltor,
3yo Turf Female: Banks Hill, Ouija Board, Goldikova, Six Perfections
3yo Male Sprinter: Caller One, Squirtle Squirt, Lost In The Fog, Cajun Beat
3yo Female Sprinter: Xtra Heat, Indian Blessing, Madcap Escapade, Lady Tak
Older Male: Ghostzapper, Mineshaft, Medaglia D' Oro, Congaree
Older Female: Zenyatta, Azeri, Havre De Grace, Riboletta,
Older Turf Male: Fantastic Light, Leroidesanemeaux, Wise Dan, English Channel,
Older Turf Female: Godikova, Ouija Board, Golden Apples, Voodoo Dancer
Older Male Sprinter: Kona Gold, Midnight Lute, Swept Overboard, Fabulous Strike
Older Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll, Xtra Heat, Honest Lady, Informed Decision,

[10 pnt move up]

Given how US racing has moved towards sprinters its a weak group of sprinters there, I mean Cajun Beat and LITF are nice horses but hardly the type I think would have competed with the horses of the 80's and 90's.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Given how US racing has moved towards sprinters its a weak group of sprinters there, I mean Cajun Beat and LITF are nice horses but hardly the type I think would have competed with the horses of the 80's and 90's.

Those are 3-year-old sprinters.

A lot of potentially top class 3yo sprinters are ruined by their connections who try to impose their will on these horses to make them routers.

In rare cases (Afleet Alex for instance) -- trainers can be successful on imposing their will and transforming a horse who really just wants to sprint into becoming a top class route horse.

In some cases -- horses will survive their failed attempts to be made into a router and revert back to sprinting with great success. Groovy, Artax etc. etc. etc.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

In some cases -- horses will survive their failed attempts to be made into a router and revert back to sprinting with great success. Groovy, Artax etc. etc. etc.

Trinniberg, though of course it was only one route race.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Those are 3-year-old sprinters.

A lot of potentially top class 3yo sprinters are ruined by their connections who try to impose their will on these horses to make them routers.

In rare cases (Afleet Alex for instance) -- trainers can be successful on imposing their will and transforming a horse who really just wants to sprint into becoming a top class route horse.

In some cases -- horses will survive their failed attempts to be made into a router and revert back to sprinting with great success. Groovy, Artax etc. etc. etc.

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

A claim made on impression that can't be backed up.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

A claim made on impression that can't be backed up.

Well, you really can't back up anything you assert in this thread.

However, he did break his maiden by like 10 going long.

His next start, he lost the HP Futurity to Real Quiet by a nose or so.

His early 3yo season form, all routes, was outstanding, all while developing anemia and being trained by Randy Bradshaw, perhaps the worst trainer in Southern California history. By the time the classics rolled around, he was a wreck.

Anyone who races a horse while knowing its anemic should receive electro shock therapy.

Do you need me to define anemia for you? His races against RQ and IC at that time were utterly fantastic considering.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

That is just being ridiculous.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

That is just being ridiculous.

His precociousness kept him competitive at routes when he was young. He would have had little shot later on at top levels in routes.

Why did Candy Ride have 3 different jockeys in the 3 US starts?
Its not like the horse lost or the other jocks had better mounts

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

That is just being ridiculous.

His precociousness kept him competitive at routes when he was young. He would have had little shot later on at top levels in routes.

Based on what?

I know my original statement is going to be difficult for most people to believe, but I watched that horse very closely as a two year old and early three year old, and that horse could flat out run, at any distance.

That was a special race horse, and if he'd been handled by non imbecilic connections, would have been hailed as one of the great horses from that decade.

That is the point I'm trying to make. The idea that he was strictly a sprinter, now that's the idea that is completely ridiculous.

If you have access to videos of his racing dating from his monster 2yo msw win through his SA Derby appearance, take the time to watch those races. I really doubt you'll come away from that thinking it was his precociousness that 'kept' him competitive.

Also, try to remember just how horrible Randy Bradshaw was, as well as imagining yourself running a marathon while anemic, which greatly diminishes your ability to get oxygen to your muscle cells.

That was an all around awesome race horse.

[cmorioles]

I doubt Groupie Doll could have beaten Xtra Heat very often at 6f.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I doubt Groupie Doll could have beaten Xtra Heat very often at 6f.

I would agree -- though Xtra Heat's best form came in the second half of her 3yo season...where she utterly exploded number wise.

Comparing her 4 and up form with Groupie Doll's 4 and up form, I give a slight edge to Groupie Doll.

[OldDog]

That's a great compilation. I am curious, though, why Lava Man doesn't survive the cut for older male.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OldDog

That's a great compilation. I am curious, though, why Lava Man doesn't survive the cut for older male.

It's Ghostzapper and everyone else in the category of older male form.

Ghostzapper was utterly sensational in every start at age 4 and up.

Slots 2 through about 15 aren't separated by much. A horse like Invasor probably has the strongest claim of all that have missed the cut... though if you excuse Lava Man's non So. Cal form ... he's strongly in the mix with several others.

Horses like Curlin and Tiznow are hurt by the divisional structure ... both of them are strongly in the hunt for the claim of best 3yo ... and both of them had successful 4yo seasons...though not good enough to make the top 4 on their older horse form IMO.

Tiznow and Curlin would rate above Mineshaft imo from a generic sense ... but not on a strict comparison of age 4 and up form VS age 4 and up form.

[OldDog]

I hear you. He's in good company to be with the likes of Invasor in not making the cut.

[Indian Charlie]

Candy Ride should have been included in older males, and probably older turf males too.