Surviving hot and contested paces

[Calzone Lord]

What are some of the most memorable performances you have of horses surviving duels and contested paces to run great performances -- either in victory or defeat?

For instance, Holy Bull's Travers win is obviously a classic example of this in victory. Hooking a rabbit and refusing to let deep closing Concern by.

Rachel Alexandra's Preakness win where she went eyeball-to-eyeball early with future wire-to-wire Breeders Cup Sprint winner Big Drama early, and held off Mine That Bird's late rally.

Seattle Slew's defeat to Exceller where he hooked a rabbit and a monster effort at 12 furlongs.

In the old days, beating a top class field in this fashion was considered the truest test of a horse and these were viewed as the stallion making performances.

Here's a colorful description of what they called 'winning the hard way'

[Calzone Lord]

One of the most valiant sprint performances by a filly I ever witnessed was Xtra Heat in the Test Stakes on July 28th 2001

She got into a breakaway 3-way speed duel with Harmony Lodge and Secret Liaison at 7 furlongs at Saratoga ... had the race been 6.5f (you get a ton of run-up at that distance) the first quarter would have been 20 and change.

Notice how Xtra Heat's two pace rivals faired.

* Xtra Heat




* Harmony Lodge's Saratoga Form (21 Beyer)





* Secret Liason (-0 Beyer)






Future BC Sprint winner Orientate ran a 22 2/5 first quarter in a sharp wire-to-wire win at 6f that same day.

[RockHardTen1985]

One of the greatest I ever witnessed was Spurious Precision.

[robfla]

2004 Woodward Stakes - Ghostzapper by a zap

[Danzig]

affirmed and alydar went side by side thru most of the belmont. that was an amazing performance.


and carson hollow didn't survive the early lead she had in the test, but i thought her performance against you was amazing.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Danzig

affirmed and alydar went side by side thru most of the belmont. that was an amazing performance.


and carson hollow didn't survive the early lead she had in the test, but i thought her performance against you was amazing.

I remember that call "You is in tight"..........gotta love Durkin

[KirisClown]

Hook and Ladder in the 01 Gulfstream BC Sprint Hdcp

Lil's Lad in the 98 Florida Derby..

[Sightseek]

Smarty Jones in the Belmont.

[Calzone Lord]

One of the gamest wins you'll ever see.

The great 2-year-old filly Flanders battled for the lead with Hall of Famer Serena's Song the whole way and just beat her in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. Sadly, she broke down right after the wire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsaqYrTEBqc


One of the rare races in the entire history of the sport where two genuinely great divisional horses duel and battle and survive to finish 1-2 at the wire.

[Calzone Lord]

The great Go For Wand made a valiant attempt to do it in the 1990 Breeders Cup Distaff, but broke down in the mid-stretch while desperate to hold Bayakoa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7JBsb00Lbs