2/16 (OP): Southwest S. (Gr. III)

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How's that?

My point is, I thought he was the best of the group, and had a bad ride and proved himself as the superior horse in that crop at that time of year in the Preakness and Belmont. That said, Closing Argument ran harder, but never materialized beyond that race.

Does Afleet Alex deserve "The Derby"... well, did Giacomo? Lil E. Tee?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

My point is, I thought he was the best of the group, and had a bad ride and proved himself as the superior horse in that crop at that time of year in the Preakness and Belmont. That said, Closing Argument ran harder, but never materialized beyond that race.

Does Afleet Alex deserve "The Derby"... well, did Giacomo? Lil E. Tee?

I never understood the " bad ride " argument. I thought he got a great ride and lost a horse race with 20 horses. It happens and that's one of the reasons winning the TC is such an elusive accomplishment.

Horses don't necessarily " deserve " to win races. They do, however, either win or lose them. Afleet Alex lost that Derby. Flower Alley may have " deserved " it the most if you really think trips should always dictate who was most deserving.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I never understood the " bad ride " argument. I thought he got a great ride and lost a horse race with 20 horses. It happens and that's one of the reasons winning the TC is such an elusive accomplishment.

Horses don't necessarily " deserve " to win races. They do, however, either win or lose them. Afleet Alex lost that Derby. Flower Alley may have " deserved " it the most if you really think trips should always dictate who was most deserving.

This might be the first time I have ever seen this comment in print. I have always thought he was best that day,glad someone else thinks that way also, but was it Chavez that went right up Spanish Chesnut's ass, or whoever was on the lead winging it? It was someone making a poor decision, but like you said, 20 horses, there isn't many openings.

[blackthroatedwind]

That was one comically bad ride Flower Alley got in that Derby.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

That was one comically bad ride Flower Alley got in that Derby.

He didn't get a great one in the Arkansas Derby that year either. It probably wouldn't have mattered because Afleet Alex was much the best that day, but Flower Alley broke from something like the 4 or 5 post in a ten-horse field, but somehow ended up widest of all going into the first turn. He raced wide chasing the pace all the way around the track, and made a strong move to get the lead briefly on the 2nd turn before AA flew by him. He then held off the rest of the field for a second place finish that was a lot more impressive than his huge margin of defeat to AA would indicate.
I remember liking him in the Derby that year off of his performance at Oaklawn along with High Limit, High Fly, and Bandini. Needless to say....I didn't cash.

In retrospect, with the trips Flower Alley got that spring, it isn't that surprising that he had such a strong summer/fall campaign later that year.