Jerry Brown's letter to TDN on HOY discussion

[philcski]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

We'll have the 1st legitimate female HOY of this century.

Azeri was legit. There wasn't an alternative that year. The 3yo's that had a shot really didn't show up on the biggest days and the older horses were pretty dreadful.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

In your opinion, was Azeri better than all of those dreadful older horses that year ?

As far as what, who had a better year? Thats the question right, not who was better per say, but who had a better year?

[philcski]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

In your opinion, was Azeri better than all of those dreadful older horses that year ?

Undoubtedly yes. Street Cry, Lido Palace, and Left Bank were all very good but get "incompletes". I was a big fan of Street Cry- he won the Dubai World Cup and the Stephen Foster that year, and had a chance to win HOY, but finished a mediocre 3rd in the Whitney. Left Bank beat him, and won Older Male, but he only ran 4 times with three wins (Bold Ruler, Tom Fool, and Whitney) and got buried in the Met Mile. I think that says a lot. Nobody really stepped forward and earned it. Milwaukee Brew didn't even make the ballot and I thought he deserved at least a chance, he won the SAH & Californian, and finished 3rd in the Pac Classic and BCC.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by cmfhb411

So she was undoubtedly better.........but won HOY by default ?

OK.

Is this some kind of trick question???

She's the only female to win HOY while never facing the boys. She was definitely the best horse in America in 2002, regardless of sex, but could have easily lost the HOY vote if one of the males had done just a little more. If you haven't noticed... it's VERY hard for fillies/mares to win HOY. Not only do they have to be outstanding, but every male category has to be mediocre. This year is an exception because bar none, the two best horses in America are both female.