Top Thoroughbreds (2000 to present)

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

As for the BCC, I can't really say. PleasantlyPerfect could run on his best day, but his two previous races were a loss against Choctaw Nation and a hard fought win over the bestest horse of the decade, Perfect Drift.

But Pleasantly Perfect was hardly the only good horse Ghostzapper beat that day.
Roses in May was pretty darn good.
Azeri, while not at her peak, was still the champion older mare in '04.
Birdstone was a quality horse at 10f+ coming off two nice wins.
Even Funny Cide was in pretty good form that fall coming off his win in the JCGC.

That was a pretty nice field.

[King Glorious]

I think it is a matter of what you prefer when deciding on who's the best. Some place more emphasis on durability and consistency. Others, myself among them, place more emphasis on who was the best at their best, whether that best was once or repeated several times. I don't think either preference is wrong. Calzone asked if Bo Jackson was better than Emmitt Smith? I say without question yes. The test question for me is simple. Could one do what the other did? Bo obviously was not able to keep healthy as Smith was but it's very easy to reason that with the same health and longevity, Jackson would be able to eclipse Smith’s numbers but Smith could never do what Jackson did. I think you have to define whether you are asking best career or just best. They aren't the same. I go back to 2005. St Liam was voted the champion older male and horse of the year. I doubt anyone disagrees that Ghostzapper was the actual best horse to race in North America that year. What is the point or the value in awarding one when everyone knows that the winner wasn't the best? It's like awarding Charles Barkley the MVP award while saying Michael Jordan is the best player in the game and then watching Jordan beat Barkley to win the championship.

[Bogey]

Enjoy the list and debate, It's hard not to place Saint Liam behind Ghostzapper.