Discreet Cat's Beyer was a 115

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Uh yeah, over thirty, BARELY. <cough, cough>

your comments are right on and funny. I agree, the times required the horses to have a real hard-knocking quality back then.

Thats why I respect the campaign that they have taken with Ouija Board this year. She has danced all the tough dances not ducking anyone male or female, and traveled the world the as well. To me, to some extent, she is kinda emblematic of racings past. Have they ever used an excuse for her?

Oujia Board is the greatest!! What a hard knocking gutsy mare, she dances all the dances and fights like hell, win or lose.

I've seen so many horses who were the next wonderhorse, until they got eyeballed that is!! Most people don't realize this but horses are herd animals by nature and instinct, and its the rare ones who actually wanna lead and fight.
I will never label a horse as great until he or she passes a look in the eye test and goes on.
To me that was the most impressive part of Discreet Cat's race, not the raw time.
He got eyeballed in the lane and said "yes I can" and took off.
All the really good ones became emboldened by challenges and fought like hell to get to the wire first, even when they didn't get their first they tried like hell to do so.
I can think of a few horses I've watched who posessed great talent but obviously didn't care if they got there first or not. Their talent carried them home sometimes, but they just didn't care if they passed or not.
I'd put Empire Maker in that category and I believe Bailey himself once said he had a common streak.