Non-winners of an Eclipse or Championship

[blackthroatedwind]

As an aside, back in 1906, what did your great great great grandfather use for athletic socks?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I have no clue what my male ancestors used to catch their nut with.

Just for that, I think I might just start a "best horse through the first six races of his life" thread.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Just for that, I think I might just start a "best horse through the first six races of his life" thread.

Why not just change your name to " The Redundant Drugs "?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Why not just change your name to " The Redundant Drugs "?

Come to think of it---an actual case could be made that Candy Ride was as impressive through the first six races of his career.



Running a mile in a world record 1:31 flat while winning a 15 runner Group 1 on turf by a city block. Running a mile and a quarter in 1:59 flat while winning a Grade 1 on dirt. And getting a two-turn mile in 1:35 2/5ths in a workout.

The horse he beat in his only American turf start came back to win a Grade 1 race, by five lengths, in course record time at Del Mar next out.

He seems like a 1st ballot lock with Discreet Cat in your "lightly raced paper-champion" Hall of Fame.

[blackthroatedwind]

Candy Ride was an awesome horse.

Discreet Cat also might be pretty good.

I was thinking of the ridiculously overhyped Smarmy Jones and the even more ridiculously overrated Not So aFleet Alex.

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Candy Ride was an awesome horse.

Discreet Cat also might be pretty good.

I was thinking of the ridiculously overhyped Smarmy Jones and the even more ridiculously overrated Not So aFleet Alex.

"ridiculoulsy overrrated Not so aFleet Alex"? Let's see, he goes to his knees at the top of the stretch in the Preakness and finds a way to win and then puts up the fastest final 1/4 in the Belmont Stakes since Arts and Letters. Yeah, he sucked.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by FairPlay

"ridiculoulsy overrrated Not so aFleet Alex"? Let's see, he goes to his knees at the top of the stretch in the Preakness and finds a way to win and then puts up the fastest final 1/4 in the Belmont Stakes since Arts and Letters. Yeah, he sucked.

Thank you for helping prove my point.

When did I say Afleet Alex " sucked " or anything even REMOTELY close? He was a very terrific horse who ran one exceptionally good race ( the Preakness ). He did nothing on the racetrack to earn the accolades he received on internet boards.

[boswd]

[quote=blackthroatedwind]Candy Ride was an awesome horse.

Discreet Cat also might be pretty good.

I was thinking of the ridiculously overhyped Smarmy Jones and the even more ridiculously overrated Not So aFleet Alex.[/QUOTE


I think Candy Ride falls into that whole Bernardini scenerio. What could have been. he got hurt I do believe but we'll never know how awesome Candy Ride could have been.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Candy Ride was an awesome horse.

Discreet Cat also might be pretty good.

I was thinking of the ridiculously overhyped Smarmy Jones and the even more ridiculously overrated Not So aFleet Alex.

Alex I agree on. Way overrated. Like I always say about Easy Goer, when Alex faced the two biggest tests of his career, the Juvenile and the Derby, he lost them both. At least EG lost to horses of quality. Alex lost to Wilko and Giacomo. Negative.

Now, Smarty Jones. I agree that the media added a lot to the hype with him being undefeated and all. But I don't think the hype was totally unjustified. There were racing industry people that also had jumped on the bandwagon, people with considerable experience and knowledge. I remember Bobby Frankel saying he was as good as we'd had since either Secretariat or Bid. When u've got a guy like Frankel saying it, and I grudgingly concede that he's been around a few more great horses than I have, it takes on more meaning than when I say it or some reporter says it. There were others that joined in also, in particular I remember Gary Stevens and Kent Desormeaux. The point is, I think there was some merit to his hype.

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Alex I agree on. Way overrated. Like I always say about Easy Goer, when Alex faced the two biggest tests of his career, the Juvenile and the Derby, he lost them both. At least EG lost to horses of quality. Alex lost to Wilko and Giacomo. Negative.

Now, Smarty Jones. I agree that the media added a lot to the hype with him being undefeated and all. But I don't think the hype was totally unjustified. There were racing industry people that also had jumped on the bandwagon, people with considerable experience and knowledge. I remember Bobby Frankel saying he was as good as we'd had since either Secretariat or Bid. When u've got a guy like Frankel saying it, and I grudgingly concede that he's been around a few more great horses than I have, it takes on more meaning than when I say it or some reporter says it. There were others that joined in also, in particular I remember Gary Stevens and Kent Desormeaux. The point is, I think there was some merit to his hype.

Point Given is way overrated, too, because he lost the Juvenile and KY Derby? How about Native Dancer since he lost the Derby? Didn't know that the Juvenile and the Derby were the only quality tests.

[blackthroatedwind]

Gary Stevens AND Kent Desormeaux loved Smarty Jones?

I must have missed that MENSA gathering.

He may have been pretty good, and his Preakness was spectacular, but he needed at least one more terrific race to justify anything close to the praise he received.