I'm sure it has, I just can't recall any who had a real shot. Can you recall any? I'm sure that there had to be one or two. I know that Scrappy T was 2nd to AA. thats about all I can recall.

We cant recall many because they never win!

Good point!

Jaipur in 1962: owner George D. Widnener didn't nominate for the Derby, preferred to try to win more prestigious Belmont instead. Jaipur won Withers (then run on the same day as the Derby), came back 2 weeks later to try the Preakness (1st attempt at 2 turns) and finished way out of the money. He won the Jersey Derby on Memorial Day (on a disqualification) and then won the Belmont.

but we know that NOW, no one knew before the race unfolded how things were going to go.

I would be more inclined to side with the naysayers of Bernardini if he was just beating his fields or having to try real hard to get his victories, but come on people, this horse is winning these races in ridiculous ease, he looks like he's cantering down a bridle path for Gods sakes! I have had the awesome experience of seeing some great horses in my 30 plus years as a race fan. I live and breathe horses everyday of my life, I don't need to see anything else from my own two eyes to realize that this is indeed a very special horse.

It's too bad Albertrani can't put a gun to some trainers heads and make them enter against Bernardini, some people need drastic validation I guess.

I guess so...

He's not Pegasus. He's lost before and I'm sure he'll get beat again at some point in his career. I never said he wasn't a special horse... I'm just not willing to compare him to some of the all time greats just yet. He's never been challenged and I'm interested in seeing how he handles himself once he is (if he ever is :D .)

You are the man!! Thank you.

In 1997, A.P. Indy's brilliant son Pulpit was wowing fans from January through April; he was the favorite for the Derby that year. Having never run as a two-year-old, he was being rushed to the big day. He ran a gallant fourth, suffering a career-ending injury. I think Tom Albertrani and Sheikh Maktoum remembered Pulpit as they mapped out Bernardini's campaign.

Yeah, he lost his first start after hitting the gate, since than he's run in strictly stakes with no other horse getting within sniffing distance of him at the wire, 3 Grade 1's ..... but, I'm not convinced.

Not "the man", the woman.

Open Reply To Steve ...

Moderators should be moderate ... and understand that everyone here is an adult ... all of whom should be capable of dealing with whatever pixels may appear on their monitors.

"Bans" ... if they are to exist at all ... should be based on a specific set of rules ... clearly enunciated and understood by all ... not on the personal whims of a muscle-flexing "moderator." Football can't be played with moving goalposts ... and members of this forum shouldn't have to fear arbitrary expulsion based on the on-the-fly impulses of a sole arbitor.

My take: Short of persistent vulgarity and physical threats ... I don't believe anyone should be "banned" ... and certainly not for using the word "imbecile" and objecting to its deletion. Far worse things are posted on nearly every thread. As such ... I strongly disagree with the ban on Dixie.

It's your spaldeen ... and you can determine who plays with it ... but an atmosphere of interference and intimidation makes the entire concept much less palatable.

Nope, he already beat him by 15 in the Preakness.

Hey Phil,

Nice to see you back ... keep on posting.

Classic. And so true. Even Lava Man's trainer says that based on figures, he knows that Lava Man is going to have to step up and run a career best race to beat Bernardini.

Hell have to run a career best to hit the board. He can forget about winning

Thank you.

So what are we to do if he's never challenged? Obey pgardn's rules of constantly writing off his competition and never call him great? That's basically like saying he's too good to be considered great.

I'm sorry, but I can't call a horse "great" until he's proven he's great. So shoot me... we disagree on Bernardini. Can we agree to disagree? If he wins the BCC, I'll jump on his bandwagon with the rest of you guys, but seriously... this is ludicrous to call him the GOAT.

I'm not shooting you. I'm asking you a question. What if he's never challenged? Can he never be called great? Because that's how pgardn feels and I think that's ridiculous.

Lets take pgardn's toys away.

Jesustapdancingchrist.