Big Brown vs. The Others

[justindew]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Winning the TC will not make him a better horse than he is.

Obviously, his talent level is what it is regardless of whether he wins the Belmont. But.....

I don't see how anyone can say they know how good he is, with the exception of his (biased) jockey and trainer. Big Brown has never been remotely tested by another horse. He's had to overcome more in the way of circumstance (injury, missed training, tough post, etc.) than he has in the way of opposition.

Can anyone argue that Big Brown COULD NOT have run the Derby one second faster had they gone one second faster in the opening 6 furlongs? I mean, the only possible knocks against him are his final times, which are a product of his opposition.

There's no doubt that he has beaten a weak group this year. Probably the weakest group I have seen since I began following the sport in 1995. And while there were no Silver Charms or Smarty Jonses in the field, it's difficult for me to imagine Big Brown losing to either of them.