TVG

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by wild barry

I thought Mineshaft was overated during his horse of the year season. He loved Belmont winning the Suburban, Woodward, and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He beat alot of horses that had less than stellar records. Although Evening Attire and Volponi were quality horses. I think he retired sound after Jockey Club and chose not to run in BC Classic.

I thought the top older males that year, in no order, were Congaree, Medaglia d'Oro, Perfect Drift, Candy Ride, Pleasantly Perfect, Mineshaft, and Milwaukee Brew. During that course of that season, Mineshaft only faced one of the other six in that group (Perfect Drift) and he lost that race. I think it's fair to say that when a horse runs in the races he ran in during the fall, you can't say they are ducking anyone. At the same time, I think it's also fair to say that he benefitted from the others facing and beating each other on several different occassions and softening their respective resumes and like you, I also felt like the decision not to run in the BC was made after he won the JCGC and the connections felt that they were in the lead for HOY. I felt that they took a gamble that Congaree or Medaglia d'Oro wouldn't win the Classic and maybe take HOY from them and it paid off.