Breeders' Cup Fan Fantasy: The Sprint

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Artax is a difficult one for me to judge. When he was on his game, he was incredible. Even when he lost some of the races he lost, he ran very well. But the thing that always will bother me about him is that even in that championship year, he lost more than he won. When I think of champions and dominating performers, it's hard for me to go with a horse that loses more than he wins. His Sprint may have been the single best of all of the sprints though but I don't think it's a clear best.

Fair enough ...

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I think I'd go with Cherokee Run's as the best win.

Keep in mind that prior to his BC Sprint win, Cherokee Run was beaten in 6 of his last 7 starts - all around one-turn and five of which as the post time favorite.

There is simply no way Cherokee Run's win was as good as Artax's either.

I believe CR got something like a 110 Beyer - compared to the 123 for Artax.

Artax broke Mr. Prospector's long standing track record and defeated two of the best sprinters of the 90's in Kona Gold and Big Jag.

Soviet Problem was a super No Cal filly and was beaten only a head - and Cardmania was a 22/1 shot 3rd place finisher - who hadn't won a race in ten months prior to that BC Sprint - and was defeated in each of his 7 starts following that race before retiring.