Country Star will not race in 3 weeks

[philcski]

Originally Posted by bellsbendboy

Philski if Empire Maker siring a grade one winner makes you ill, then your "sickness" is terminal.

Empire Maker is as well bred as a horse can be, was a terrific racehorse, has outstanding conformation and has covered over one hundred of the best mares in each of his three seasons. BBB

I'm very aware of what he has going for him, thanks. It's more the fact that he lacks the "heart" I look for in a truly great one- he had more talent than almost any horse I've ever seen but there were several performances that left a bad taste in my mouth. I'll forgive the Derby as it was an overconfident ride by Bailey and he wasn't 100% by all accounts, and the Belmont was a reasonably good performance, but the Jim Dandy and subsequent retirement was frustrating (I bet Strong Hope in that race, by the way, not sour grapes...)
Also, I was disappointed he was treated as the king of the barn when I KNEW the best 3YO in the country, not just his barn, was kind of an afterthought.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

If you draw a line through Street Sense's loss in the Blue Grass Stakes - as the pace was impossibly slow and hurt the figure.....you'll see that Empire Maker and Street Sense's 3-year-old season had a lot in common speed figure wise.

Street Sense at age three (w/ Blue Grass loss Excluded)

* 6 starts

* never worse than 2nd

* 2 Grade 1 wins

* Top Beyer figure of 111

* Avg Beyer figure of 107.16


Empire Maker at age three (all races included - even Sham Stakes loss to Man Among Men)

* 6 starts

* never worse than 2nd

* 3 Grade 1 wins

* Top Beyer figure of 111

* Avg Beyer figure of 107.16


Interestingly enough - Empire Maker lost his division championship to the "gutsy gelding" .... while Street Sense is at the crossroads of his legacy going into the BC Classic. He could become a 1st ballot Hall of Famer (the Horrah!) if he wins a clearly below par running of the Classic. Or, with a Curlin victory he will lose his own division. And would also probably lose his own divison in the unlikely event that Any Given Saturday or Hard Spun are able to win the Classic in very authorative fashion.