Street Sense sharp in drill

[Unstable]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

As well as Gary Stevens rode thousands of races the 2001 Derby was not one of his finer performances. It's a shame, though, because he was so much better than everyone else in that crop.

Are we talking about Point Given or Gary Stevens here?

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Unstable

Are we talking about Point Given or Gary Stevens here?

What other jocks come from Stevens' crop?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Unstable

Are we talking about Point Given or Gary Stevens here?

horse.

NT

[justindew]

1) Reese's Puffs are far better than Cocoa Puffs and Wheaties. They are like crack cocaine to me. If you have never tried Reese's Puffs, I advise you keep it that way.

2) I thought Steve's question about Point Given's feet was written with perfect grammar. Did I miss an error?

3) If I were to argue that Fusaichi Pegasus, Smarty Jones, and Point Given represented our best shots at a Triple Crown winner in the last 10 years, would I get laughed out of the room?

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by justindew

3) If I were to argue that Fusaichi Pegasus, Smarty Jones, and Point Given represented our best shots at a Triple Crown winner in the last 10 years, would I get laughed out of the room?

I'd say no on the latter two, yes on the former.

[cmorioles]

War Emblem was better than Pegasus. I'd even put Empire Maker, who I disliked a lot, ahead of FuPeg.

[justindew]

If Fusaichi Pegasus handles the swamp at Pimlico and finishes first instead of second, I think he trounces Commendable and the rest of the worst field ever assembled for a Belmont Stakes.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by justindew

If Fusaichi Pegasus handles the swamp at Pimlico and finishes first instead of second, I think he trounces Commendable and the rest of the worst field ever assembled for a Belmont Stakes.

If he wins, I seriously doubt the Belmont field would have been so weak. I don't, however, agree it was the slop that did him in.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

War Emblem was better than Pegasus. I'd even put Empire Maker, who I disliked a lot, ahead of FuPeg.

Really? War Emblem?

Maybe he's just one of the horses I most disliked over the years. He always seemed like a beneficiary of circumstance, the big Beyer over one of the world's most speed-favoring tracks, then a Derby filled with average horses (save Medaglia d'Oro who was a no-show that day), then a performance in the Belmont that would have been bad even if he had been on all four legs coming out of the gate.

Count me among those who think FuPeg was WAY better than War Emblem.

NT

[cmorioles]

Well, he won two legs of the TC, FuPeg one. He also went on to take the Haskell, while FuPeg won the Jerome. War Emblem earned figures as good, actually better I think, then FuPeg.

As for the Belmont, the break is the most overlooked form of trouble in racing in my opinion. War Emblem had zero chance after that break.

I forgot one other horse that may have had the best chance to win the TC the last decade...Ghostzapper.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Well, he won two legs of the TC, FuPeg one. He also went on to take the Haskell, while FuPeg won the Jerome. War Emblem earned figures as good, actually better I think, then FuPeg.

As for the Belmont, the break is the most overlooked form of trouble in racing in my opinion. War Emblem had zero chance after that break.

I forgot one other horse that may have had the best chance to win the TC the last decade...Ghostzapper.

I respect your opinion. While I think to a great extent FuPeg was a beneficiary of circumstance in the Derby, I still think he was the best in that race. Undoubtedly the best horse born in 1997 was Tiznow, but unfortunately he was not around to contest the TC.

I completely agree on Ghostzapper though. The 2003 3YO bunch would have had a run for their money.

NT

[philcski]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Well, he won two legs of the TC, FuPeg one. He also went on to take the Haskell, while FuPeg won the Jerome. War Emblem earned figures as good, actually better I think, then FuPeg.

As for the Belmont, the break is the most overlooked form of trouble in racing in my opinion. War Emblem had zero chance after that break.

I forgot one other horse that may have had the best chance to win the TC the last decade...Ghostzapper.

I know what you're saying as far as ability relative to the crop, but he wasn't ready for the rigors of the Triple Crown. Hell I don't even think Frankel knew what he had at that point.

I loved his quote after the Belmont- "Empire Maker is the best horse I've ever trained", and I'm thinking (after seeing Ghostzapper's return to the races in an electrifying performance) "he isn't even your best 3YO"

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Well, he won two legs of the TC, FuPeg one. He also went on to take the Haskell, while FuPeg won the Jerome. War Emblem earned figures as good, actually better I think, then FuPeg.

As for the Belmont, the break is the most overlooked form of trouble in racing in my opinion. War Emblem had zero chance after that break.

I forgot one other horse that may have had the best chance to win the TC the last decade...Ghostzapper.

If you'd seen WE in the paddock (assuming you weren't there) you'd have wanted no part of him. He looked terrible.