What's Your Favorite Triple Crown Series (1979-2009)?

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by smartbid09

In your opinion Charlie what was the second best crop year from 1979-2009?

79 was slightly before my time.

My contenders for next best crop would probably, off the top of my head, have to be between 1985, 1989 and 1998 (not many would agree with 98).

85 had Spend a Buck, Chiefs Crown, Proud Truth, Skywalker and many other top flight horses.

89 had SS, EG, KG and Houston.

98 had IC, RQ, VG, EOTY, LL, HH, Artax, Old Trieste, Coronados Quest, Cape Town. Overall, a very underappreciated group.

I don't know. 85 was crazy deep though.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

79 was slightly before my time.

My contenders for next best crop would probably, off the top of my head, have to be between 1985, 1989 and 1998 (not many would agree with 98).

85 had Spend a Buck, Chiefs Crown, Proud Truth, Skywalker and many other top flight horses.

89 had SS, EG, KG and Houston.

98 had IC, RQ, VG, EOTY, LL, HH, Artax, Old Trieste, Coronados Quest, Cape Town. Overall, a very underappreciated group.

I don't know. 85 was crazy deep though.

My favorite from the 1985 3yos was Turkoman. His stretch rally in the 1986 Tallahasee Hcp was one of the best I've ever seen. It was a sprint and the fractions were crazy, but it was still remarkable how he ran down the leaders.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

My favorite from the 1985 3yos was Turkoman. His stretch rally in the 1986 Tallahasee Hcp was one of the best I've ever seen. It was a sprint and the fractions were crazy, but it was still remarkable how he ran down the leaders.

I think that's the race in which he galloped out the mile in about 133. That Turkoman had one of the most electrifying turns of foot you'll ever see.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I think that's the race in which he galloped out the mile in about 133. That Turkoman had one of the most electrifying turns of foot you'll ever see.

That was it. The 1/2 was run in under 44, at which point Turkoman was some 15 lengths off the lead. Turkoman came flying down the stretch at Hialeah like he had been fired from a slingshot. He got the final 1/4 in 21 and change.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

79 was slightly before my time.

My contenders for next best crop would probably, off the top of my head, have to be between 1985, 1989 and 1998 (not many would agree with 98).

85 had Spend a Buck, Chiefs Crown, Proud Truth, Skywalker and many other top flight horses.

89 had SS, EG, KG and Houston.

98 had IC, RQ, VG, EOTY, LL, HH, Artax, Old Trieste, Coronados Quest, Cape Town. Overall, a very underappreciated group.

I don't know. 85 was crazy deep though.

My favorite from the 1985 3yos was Turkoman. His stretch rally in the 1986 Tallahasee Hcp was one of the best I've ever seen. It was a sprint and the fractions were crazy, but it was still remarkable how he ran down the leaders.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

My favorite from the 1985 3yos was Turkoman. His stretch rally in the 1986 Tallahasee Hcp was one of the best I've ever seen. It was a sprint and the fractions were crazy, but it was still remarkable how he ran down the leaders.

Oh, and perhaps the most gifted horse from that entire crop never even ran as a 3yo (or beyond).

Saratoga Six.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Oh, and perhaps the most gifted horse from that entire crop never even ran as a 3yo (or beyond).

Saratoga Six.

The DWL curse.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

The DWL curse.

Yeah, he was on a roll at the time.

Landaluce, Saratoga Six, Ketoh, a bunch of others and then Grand Canyon.

I wonder how many hall of famers were potentially ruined/killed.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Cardus

1988.

With a better trip in the Derby, Secretariat's son wins the Triple Crown.

Easily.

Perhaps.

Though conceivably, with a better trip in the Preakness, the Lukas filly goes 2 for 3 in the TC that year.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Perhaps.

Though conceivably, with a better trip in the Preakness, the Lukas filly goes 2 for 3 in the TC that year.

If Winning Colors had been caught by Risen Star in the Derby, Stephens probably would not have instructed Day to send Forty Niner to the lead in the Preakness and float her wide. Then we would have been spared the Klein/Stevens vs Stephens feud after the Preakness.

Risen Star definitely got a perfect setup in the Preakness; it made up for the overland trip in the Derby.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

My favorite from the 1985 3yos was Turkoman. His stretch rally in the 1986 Tallahasee Hcp was one of the best I've ever seen. It was a sprint and the fractions were crazy, but it was still remarkable how he ran down the leaders.

Agreed. He's one of my all-time favorites as well.