Derby VS Twin Spires - '71-to-'80

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Here was Shoemaker's take on the five best horses he ever rode....

He had to leave off a lot of greats because he rode so many - but naming Gallant Man over Damascus is sheer lunacy.

Feelings of guilt might have kept the memory of Gallant Man at the forefront of Shoemaker's mind. That's the colt that Shoemaker cost a Kentucky Derby victory for when he misjudged the finish line. I like how he called him a great 12f horse. Guess he wasn't ready to admit he was a good 10f horse, too.

Gallant Man was part of a three-way rivalry back in the day along with the speedy Bold Ruler and the stout Round Table. So his race record may be obscured a bit kind of like a modern day horse such as Formal Gold (who had to deal with Skip Away and Gentlemen among others).

Likewise, Damascus may be buried in Shoemaker's mind because of high profile losses in the Kentucky Derby and I think also the Charles H. Strub as heavy favorite. Plus, Damascus is ultimately often overshadowed by rival Dr. Fager.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Plus, Damascus is ultimately often overshadowed by rival Dr. Fager.

Yeah - he needed the rabbit to beat Dr. Fager - and all of his truly insanely huge wins came with obvious dreamy pace setups - but Damascus's 3-year-old season - I rated the 4th best in American history since 1900.

Gallant Man was certainly a great horse who faced great competition - but I thought clearly 3rd best of Round Table and Bold Ruler overall from all the info I had to work with.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Gallant Man was certainly a great horse who faced great competition - but I thought clearly 3rd best of Round Table and Bold Ruler overall from all the info I had to work with.

Strictly on 3yo form, wasn't Gallant Man superior to Round Table?

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Gallant Man was certainly a great horse who faced great competition - but I thought clearly 3rd best of Round Table and Bold Ruler overall from all the info I had to work with.

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Gallant Man was part of a three-way rivalry back in the day along with the speedy Bold Ruler and the stout Round Table. So his race record may be obscured a bit kind of like a modern day horse such as Formal Gold (who had to deal with Skip Away and Gentlemen among others).

The Class of '57 is one of my favorite topics in racing, and Round Table at/near the top of my all time best list. But beyond him, Bold Ruler, Gallant Man, Iron Leige and Barbizon, Calumet's tragic Gen. Duke was probably the best of that immortal crop.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Kasept

The Class of '57 is one of my favorite topics in racing, and Round Table at/near the top of my all time best list. But beyond him, Bold Ruler, Gallant Man, Iron Leige and Barbizon, Calumet's tragic Gen. Duke was probably the best of that immortal crop.

I know the least about that horse out of anyone you just named and am curious as to why you think he was probably the best of that crop. He won only 5 of 12.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I know the least about that horse out of anyone you just named and am curious as to why you think he was probably the best of that crop. He won only 5 of 12.

Wasn't he the actual Derby favorite before being injured? (or am I confusing another group of Calumet horses?)

[Revidere]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Wasn't he the actual Derby favorite before being injured? (or am I confusing another group of Calumet horses?)

You are correct

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I know the least about that horse out of anyone you just named and am curious as to why you think he was probably the best of that crop. He won only 5 of 12.

On the farm leading up to his 2yo year, he was widely regarded by the Calumet handlers as the best colt they ever bred... better than Citation. During the winter leading up towards Derby, he alternated decisions with eventual Horse of the Year Bold Ruler in the Florida 3yo series with the Wheatley Nasrullah colt taking the Bahamas (7f) by 4 and Flamingo (9f) by a neck and Gen. Duke (Bull Lea-Wistful by Sun Again) copping the Everglades (9f) by a head and Florida Derby by 1.5.

Gen. Duke established the Florida Derby and Gulfstream 9f records in the Derby win, (and equaled the world record), 1:46.2. No one has gotten closer than 1:47.0 since. And that was Alydar. Gen. Duke got beat subsequently in the Blue Grass (Iron Leige) and Derby Trial (Federall Hill), and there's no telling how good he was going to be the rest of the year. But he was going into the Derby as favorite when he was scratched Friday night. He never raced again. He developed the wobbles and died in 1958.