I don't hate any horse. And I never wish anything bad for any horse. I'd rather lose a bet than see a horse I bet against get hurt.

His Preakness was solid -- but no record time. The field folded. It would have been very interesting without the injury to Barbaro.

Frankly, I think Smarty Jones ran a better Preakness. Yet he was never hailed as "very special", or "great", or whatever.

The hype machine is all over Bernardini to get the public's mind off Barbaro.

Ghostzapper was faster than Bernardini will ever be. And that was just two years ago. Horses as good as Bernardini have come along quite often.

People say that they want to see good horses, that the 70's was the golden era and why can't we get those types again. Yet, when a horse with enormous and still untapped ability emerges, who may yet (if he runs as an older horse) join the ranks of the truly great, people are unhappy. I conclude, therefore, that people do not really want to see great horses; they want to see their own favorites become great, but if a horse that they don't particularly identify with shows that kind of quality, forget about it. The sour grapes start to appear.

I was at the track today (Bernardini looked gorgeous as always - he pranced to the post, neck arched.........spectacular) and one girl who always seemed to be where I was said "I'm still not impressed". I figure she must post on message boards.

Frankly, the 2nd through 4th quarters were pretty stiff - 23 and change for each, I believe. Bernardini was routinely brilliant- Wandering Boy ran well and Bernardini just romped

It was a decent performance. The mid fractions were solid but they were coming off some really slow initial fractions. And he didn't come home in anything riveting.

There's no way Bernardini would have beaten Ghostzapper in the BC Classic. No way. Or St. Liam, or Roses in May. He has an easy chance to do it compared with what other 3 year olds have faced in the Classic. He's been very lucky.

That might change soon depending on what Romans does with Bright One. Or the sheiks do with Discreet Cat.

Let LM get away with 25 and he would bury them, that was a rediculous pace and that track was very fast...

Well, Ghostzapper was very nice. No debate.
Actually, I wouldn't try to consider the two of them.
Different races, different times.
Bernardini wasn't even "asked" today.
Watch the replay.
He won for fun. No wonder so many have ducked him.
If you don't know what a great horse looks like, there's really no more that I can say. But what do I know? I've only followed this sport since the duels between Affirmed and Alydar. I own nine. Four with Alydar in their peds, three with Deputy Minister, and one with Secretariat.
Discount what I say all you want.
I'll just say that Bernardini's don't come along that often.
Enjoy his efforts or not. Not much more I can say.
DTS

congratulations to bernardini on the first walkover at belmont since spectacular bid in 1980.

Exactly. Maybe next time they'll pull some carriage horses from downtown NY. You know, the horses that pull the tourists around. He'll, they're older horses. Put them in the gate and let Bernardini maul them.

And then everyone can chant the Bernardini mantra. "He's so great -- he came home in a hand ride".

If you're a big Bernardini booster enjoy the next few weeks . . . because November 4th the hype ends.

Belmont was NOT that fast today ,not at all. Also, the middle 3 fractions were very fast - all 23 and change.

Todko, that horse was cantering and he finished in 25 and change. If he had been asked at all, he would have finished well under that time. Slow internal fractions? See above- not slow at all.

I hope you have a lot of friends who feel as you do; we may get a decent price on Bernardini in the BCC

So Toddy, I guess you are saying that Javier will not be checking over his shoulder at the top of the stretch at the BC?

Ez

No Betsy, I'll get the price on the horse that beats Bernardini.

He's been very lucky. I wish him well but I'd like to see him in some real races.

I never understand why people downgrade a horse based upon his competition. The horse is only running against who shows up and he keeps hammering them. What more do you want him to do? Since his 1st race he has been winning pretty much throttled down. Not like he is winning allowance races. Does not matter who he beats if there isn't anyone out there that measures up to him. Should they try to win the race by 30 lengths? Maybe he is one of the all time greats and maybe he is not. But so far you will have a hard time convincing me that he couldn't beat St. Liam or Roses in May. He may not win eased up against better horses but to say that he would not have been competitive with decent but far from great horses like the 2 mentioned above is kind of silly.

Like what, the Pomona Derby or Longacres mile? He picked the biggest races and crushed the ones that showed up. He aint lucky, he's good.

Oh yeah? Who do you think will end that hype? Is Ghostzapper secretly training up to the race?

Congrats to Bernardini and his connections. :D

for the record i dont hate bernardini.i support anything associated with seattle slew and ap indy.honestly if he was owned by someone other than sheik mohamhead i probably feel different.

One word - Officer

In my humble opinion

With Lava having 3 weeks to get right at CD, look for a battle of the ages as the folks in charge will not let this one slip by.

Trevor's call -

Lava by a nose, Lava pulls away and it's Lava

25 change.. yes, then went a half in :48 flat, 3/4 in 1:11 and a mile in 1:35.4... Bernardini was hand ridden the whole way and still coasted home in 2:01 flat.. Nice run.