Don't Look Amateurish By Falling Into The 4YO vs 3YO Trap

[Danzig]

oh i think bernardini is doing a great job. but you're talking to a cynical skeptical realist. i'm also with somer as far as not slapping a label on any horse til they're done. i've seen too many horses who seemed to be one thing, who put on some amazing performances, only to be shown as being mere mortals. it's why when we have buzz every year on the new filly to take on colts at churchill i scoff. and why i roll my eyes at the suggestion that the derby winner is GUARANTEED to win the t.c. cause this is the year.

i'm enjoying watching bernardini. crossing my fingers we get to see a lot more of him. and then hopefully he'll take over where his old man leaves off in the shed. ap indy has certainly done very well taking slew down the road!

[packerbacker7964]

It's not like it can't be done though right? I'll name the few I know that could run with the older men. Cat Thief, Tiznow, Holy Bull I don't a whole lot more but it can and has been done in the past.

Originally Posted by packerbacker7964

It's not like it can't be done though right? I'll name the few I know that could run with the older men. Cat Thief, Tiznow, Holy Bull I don't a whole lot more but it can and has been done in the past.

Yes it can ... yes it was ... yes it will be ... and ... yes it's beside the point.

This thread is about a handful of superhorses who had their best years as 4YOS ... and how naïve it is to compare even a great 3YO to the all-time greatest 4YOS when they were at their very best.

In those rare cases ... a 3YO to 3YO comparison is much more appropriate.

[Thunder Gulch]

I really thought BB was being sarcastic at first, but BB is obviously blinded by the Bernardini love affair to recall the greatness of Slew and Bid. Nevermind Slew was undefeated through the Triple Crown. And Bid, well Bid won 6 G1 races at 3 by an average of 6 lengths, while setting track records. 10 of 12 as a sophomore for Bid, losing twice at Belmont, once with a pin in his foot, and the other a diminishing half length to the older Affirmed when Shoe let them steal it on the front end with a half in 49.

I know Bernardini looks fantastic. There is no question that he could be the real thing. But don't downgrade the greatness of others in trying to build up another.

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

I really thought BB was being sarcastic at first, but BB is obviously blinded by the Bernardini love affair to recall the greatness of Slew and Bid. Nevermind Slew was undefeated through the Triple Crown. And Bid, well Bid won 6 G1 races at 3 by an average of 6 lengths, while setting track records. 10 of 12 as a sophomore for Bid, losing twice at Belmont, once with a pin in his foot, and the other a diminishing half length to the older Affirmed when Shoe let them steal it on the front end with a half in 49.

I know Bernardini looks fantastic. There is no question that he could be the real thing. But don't downgrade the greatness of others in trying to build up another.

I don't know how old you are ... but judging from your choice of site names ... you probably never saw Seattle Slew or Spectacular Bid race. I was immensely fortunate to see both of those great horses on many occasions ... and I've never "downgraded" their greatness ... in fact I've always vaunted them ... but ...

... please check their actual records ... and you'll see that neither of them ... especially Seattle Slew ... had a better campaign as a 3YO than Bernardini ... assuming Bernardini wins the BC Classic in a convincing manner.

Both Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid had outstanding campaigns as 4YOS ... and that's what underscored their true greatness. To say that Bernardini ... through October of his 3YO year ... is not as good a 3YO as either of those two greats were ... is both silly and ignorant.