Top 25 Most Overrated Performances of '06

blackthroatedwind · #1 12-18-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bystander

That said, it would be unfair not to mention Music School (who's thrilling return yesterday does just that, marks him as another overrated TC contender.) I remember people getting excited last year after his optional claiming win at Oaklawn, followed by an excuse-heavy 3rd or 4th in the Southwest.
Most overrated? No. But he deserves a spot.

He may be the most ridiculous of all. He won a slow maiden race, with phony trouble, and the whole world was going crazy. Then he had a slow return, followed by phony trouble, and people were still excited.

Now, one could say injuries have slowed him, just as one could also say he was always a bum.

philcski · #2 12-18-2006, 01:49 PM

Strong Contender: Overrated Horse of the Year. Should be a special Eclipse award for that one.

JJP · #3 12-18-2006, 01:53 PM

Music School was another who was hyped because he was a 1/2 to some GSW.

Here's a shortcut to finding out the most overrated, overhyped 3YOs for '07:

Find out who's out of Grade 1 winners or is a half or full to a Gr. 1 winner.

Simple but reliable.

blackthroatedwind · #4 12-18-2006, 01:54 PM

I just consult Abe's lists.

cmorioles · #5 12-18-2006, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philcski

Strong Contender: Overrated Horse of the Year. Should be a special Eclipse award for that one.

There were much more overrated horses than this one. Fleet Indian, Lava Man, Brother Derek, Giacomo, Henny Hughes come immediately to mind. You can then add Lawyer Ron, Jazil, and my personal selection, Sweetnorthernsaint, who actually went off favored in the Derby somehow.

philcski · #6 12-18-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

There were much more overrated horses than this one. Fleet Indian, Lava Man, Brother Derek, Giacomo, Henny Hughes come immediately to mind. You can then add Lawyer Ron, Jazil, and my personal selection, Sweetnorthernsaint, who actually went off favored in the Derby somehow.

I agree with all except Jazil. He was the what, 5th choice in the Belmont and 12th-ish choice in the Derby? Both were pretty reasonable estimations by the public.

I retract my earlier statement for Strong Contender as Overall Overrated Horse of the Year. FLEET INDIAN is the Champion F&M Overrated Horse of the Year and Overall Overrated Horse of the Year. Give her my phantom Eclipse vote.

ALostTexan · #7 12-18-2006, 02:24 PM

How about Lady of Venice? Yes, she was impressive beating 3YO fillies at Churchill, but she was then being touted as the second coming. She was bet down to even money in the Diana (against solid older fillies), and then was blown away by Wait a While in the Lake Placid.

Bystander · #8 12-18-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

How about Lady of Venice? Yes, she was impressive beating 3YO fillies at Churchill, but she was then being touted as the second coming. She was bet down to even money in the Diana (against solid older fillies), and then was blown away by Wait a While in the Lake Placid.

And how about adding Quite a Bride, then, too?

ALostTexan · #9 12-18-2006, 02:42 PM

I never had Quite a Bride being more than a Grade III-type, nor was she ever really touted as more than that. To hear people talking about Lady of Venice at Saratoga, you'd think she was the second coming of Gorella.

boswd · #10 12-18-2006, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

There were much more overrated horses than this one. Fleet Indian, Lava Man, Brother Derek, Giacomo, Henny Hughes come immediately to mind. You can then add Lawyer Ron, Jazil, and my personal selection, Sweetnorthernsaint, who actually went off favored in the Derby somehow.

I wouldn't call Heny Huges, Lava Man or Fleet Indian overratted. That is the problem with The Breeders Cup. Too much emphasis is put on one race on one day. I would look at these horse who have been above and beyond competitive through the year. I will give you Brother Derek and Giacomo though.

Cajungator26 · #11 12-18-2006, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

There were much more overrated horses than this one. Fleet Indian, Lava Man, Brother Derek, Giacomo, Henny Hughes come immediately to mind. You can then add Lawyer Ron, Jazil, and my personal selection, Sweetnorthernsaint, who actually went off favored in the Derby somehow.

I would hardly call Lava Man overrated. AND furthermore, how can you call SNS overrated? HORRIBLE trip in the derby and finished 2nd in the Preakness even though he was staggering down the lane and exhausted. Sorry, but I don't agree on those two at all.

cmorioles · #12 12-18-2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

I would hardly call Lava Man overrated. AND furthermore, how can you call SNS overrated? HORRIBLE trip in the derby and finished 2nd in the Preakness even though he was staggering down the lane and exhausted. Sorry, but I don't agree on those two at all.

No need to apologize, it is just opinion.

How many horses could win everything Lava Man did and still have no chance in the BC? He beat absolutely nothing all year long. I was a fan of what he did, but he took advantage of circumstances while showing he was nothing special figure wise.

SNS? Look at the Preakness chart:

http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/story/5625510

Other than one broken down horse and BroDerek, also on my list, there is absolutely nothing there.

Cajungator26 · #13 12-18-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

No need to apologize, it is just opinion.

How many horses could win everything Lava Man did and still have no chance in the BC? He beat absolutely nothing all year long. I was a fan of what he did, but he took advantage of circumstances while showing he was nothing special figure wise.

SNS? Look at the Preakness chart:

http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/story/5625510

Other than one broken down horse and BroDerek, also on my list, there is absolutely nothing there.

Well, of course there was nothing there in the Preakness. Do you think that Bernardini was overrated as well? He didn't beat much all season either. As for Lava Man, he doesn't ship well... some horses just don't. I was still impressed with all of his wins this year.

JJP · #14 12-18-2006, 05:03 PM

With Lava Man, its all about Bute. If he can't run on race day Bute, he's a toss out.

cmorioles · #15 12-18-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Well, of course there was nothing there in the Preakness. Do you think that Bernardini was overrated as well? He didn't beat much all season either. As for Lava Man, he doesn't ship well... some horses just don't. I was still impressed with all of his wins this year.

If the BC was run at Hollywood or Santa Anita, I still would have given Lava Man no chance.

Bernardini was obviously somewhat overrated, but he isn't anymore.

Danzig · #16 12-18-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmorioles

There were much more overrated horses than this one. Fleet Indian, Lava Man, Brother Derek, Giacomo, Henny Hughes come immediately to mind. You can then add Lawyer Ron, Jazil, and my personal selection, Sweetnorthernsaint, who actually went off favored in the Derby somehow.

fleet indian and lava man? both found the winners circle every day this year but bc day. so did henny hughes. giacomo wasn't overrated, everyone knew that horse was what he was. lawyer ron was one of the $ winningest 3 yo's this year, and jazil won the belmont, so he's a classic winner. i'd take any of those over strong contender, any day!