Manila -- in the opinion of more than a few highly respected handicappers -- was as good an American turf horse as they've said they've seen.
It took Manila 21 years after retiring to get elected into the Hall of Fame. The 16th time was the charm.
Manila was a perfect 5-for-5 in his career against Grade 1 company. He never finished worse than 2nd in 14 career tries on turf.
He won 3 different Grade 1's as a 3-year-old facing older horses - including a Breeders Cup turf victory in unquestionably the most impressive BC Turf field ever assembled.
* Theatrical was 2nd.
* Estrapade (off of a 5-length win in the 14-runner Gr 1 Arlington Million and a 2 length win over Theatrical in the 12-runner Gr 1 Oak Tree Invitational in her last two starts) was a soundly beaten 3rd.
* Dancing Brave (European Horse of the Year and still today considered one of the greatest and most popular turf horses in European history) was 4th.
Manila won his 2nd UN as a 4-year-old under handicap conditions. He also drubbed Theatrical in the Arlington Million. Theatrical had brought a 4-race win streak (3 Grade 1's and a Grade 2) into the Million and subsquently never was beaten again. After the Million defeat -- he took the Gr 1 Turf Classic, Gr 1 Man O' War, and Grade 1 BC Turf over Arc winner Trempolino in his next three starts.
Gio Ponti needs to win a dirt Grade 1 or a Breeders Cup race or just wait for the 28th ballot.
People bitched about Point Given -- he was an absolute superstar. He dominated the glamour 3yo division in a very deep year and completed a unique Preakness, Belmont, Haskell, and Travers sweep all very impressively and with a bar shoe in the Travers.
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10-13-2011, 11:00 AM
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