Horse of the Year?

[smuthg]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I have no idea how Eight Belles would get his vote

No idea? Was Proud Spell's Oaks or Alabama that much better than her Derby? Unless you're voting for Goldikova, I think Eight Belles has as good of argument as any other 3YO filly.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by smuthg

No idea? Was Proud Spell's Oaks or Alabama that much better than her Derby? Unless you're voting for Goldikova, I think Eight Belles has as good of argument as any other 3YO filly.

except that it's an award for the year, and sadly eight belles wasn't able to run the year. her derby placing was good, but not good enough imo to warrant the award. sentimentality shouldn't place her above a horse who had a better season, regardless of why that season occurred. keep in mind barbaro didn't win top 3 yo-and he showed a ton more than eight belles did up to that point in their careers-and he lost to bernardini, who had a very good year. barbaro may have had a better one, but generally the award isn't given on speculation.

[CSC]

None of Curlin's or Zenyatta's performances this year impressed me as much as Goldikova's at the Breeders Cup.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

None of Curlin's or Zenyatta's performances this year impressed me as much as Goldikova's at the Breeders Cup.

It's hard to not be impressed with her turn of foot, and I certainly was impressed with her ability and think she's the real deal...but it's also certainly impossible to overlook that she got what was probably the most beautiful trip of any Breeders' Cup winner at this year's event. But yes, her quarter mile of running was something to behold.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

It's hard to not be impressed with her turn of foot, and I certainly was impressed with her ability and think she's the real deal...but it's also certainly impossible to overlook that she got what was probably the most beautiful trip of any Breeders' Cup winner at this year's event. But yes, her quarter mile of running was something to behold.

Yes, She got a great trip, I look at it as a strength rather than being lucky...the pace was quick, she has a high crusing speed, despite being close to the pace she booted clear in a split second and it was over. That was impressive if you ask me, more than what Curlin showed in his last 3 races.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by CSC

Yes, She got a great trip, I look at it as a strength rather than being lucky...the pace was quick, she has a high crusing speed, despite being close to the pace she booted clear in a split second and it was over. That was impressive if you ask me, more than what Curlin showed in his last 3 races.

And don't get me wrong...there were lots of "wow"s falling out of my mouth at Santa Anita after that race, I just think in retrospect it wasn't quite as amazing as it looked after sitting just off of the almost-certain-to-collapse-speed of Thorn Song and Daytona, and though it was a quicker pace, she got kind of exactly the trip that played to her style...cruising along with the rest and then seeing which runner can sprint the fastest for a quarter mile.

I give her plenty of credit where credit is due, but I don't think that the actual merit of the performance stacks up at all to the breathtaking visual of the performance...which is not imply that it wasn't a huge run, just maybe not as huge as it seems.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

And don't get me wrong...there were lots of "wow"s falling out of my mouth at Santa Anita after that race, I just think in retrospect it wasn't quite as amazing as it looked after sitting just off of the almost-certain-to-collapse-speed of Thorn Song and Daytona, and though it was a quicker pace, she got kind of exactly the trip that played to her style...cruising along with the rest and then seeing which runner can sprint the fastest for a quarter mile.

I give her plenty of credit where credit is due, but I don't think that the actual merit of the performance stacks up at all to the breathtaking visual of the performance...which is not imply that it wasn't a huge run, just maybe not as huge as it seems.

I didn't mean to imply you were not giving her credit, I know where you were coming from. The 2nd and 3rd place horses coming out of the race didn't distinguish themselves in their next starts, though one raced in HK which is never easy. Her form in Europe certainly suggests her BC race was not a fluke, rather it is the type of performance we expected. To me it was more impressive than any of Ouiji Board's BC's and that one is held to a very high standard over here.

[smuthg]

Originally Posted by Danzig

except that it's an award for the year, and sadly eight belles wasn't able to run the year. her derby placing was good, but not good enough imo to warrant the award. sentimentality shouldn't place her above a horse who had a better season, regardless of why that season occurred. keep in mind barbaro didn't win top 3 yo-and he showed a ton more than eight belles did up to that point in their careers-and he lost to bernardini, who had a very good year. barbaro may have had a better one, but generally the award isn't given on speculation.

oh, I agree with you, but, I could see how someone could argue that Eight Belles was the champion 3YO filly.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by smuthg

No idea? Was Proud Spell's Oaks or Alabama that much better than her Derby? Unless you're voting for Goldikova, I think Eight Belles has as good of argument as any other 3YO filly.

You dont get awards for the races you lose. She basically was the 2nd best of a bad lot in the Derby.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

You dont get awards for the races you lose. She basically was the 2nd best of a bad lot in the Derby.

very true.