Strongest Classic Field Ever?

[DaTruth]

It might be the greatest field ever to assemble in a starting gate, unless Quality Road is a late scratch again.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

It might be the greatest field ever to assemble in a starting gate, unless Quality Road is a late scratch again.

Its a really strong group. Not sure why everyone seems so down on it.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Its a really strong group. Not sure why everyone seems so down on it.

Who in the field has been "really strong"?

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Who in the field has been "really strong"?

The big 4.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

The big 4.

Quality Road is a cross between Lemon Drop Kid and Bertrando, meaning he's tailing off and can't get the distance.

Blame in a normal year would be under-the-radar very much like previous winners Wild Again, Skywalker, and Awesome Again. And yet he's one of the "big 4".

Lookin At Lucky is about as accomplished as Louis Quatorze or Birdstone were, neither of whom were heavily backed in their respective Classics.

Pepper's Pride was never considered for the BC Classic and almost certainly would have been a longshot if she had, not a major player.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Quality Road is a cross between Lemon Drop Kid and Bertrando, meaning he's tailing off and can't get the distance.

Blame in a normal year would be under-the-radar very much like previous winners Wild Again, Skywalker, and Awesome Again. And yet he's one of the "big 4".

Lookin At Lucky is about as accomplished as Louis Quatorze or Birdstone were, neither of whom were heavily backed in their respective Classics.

Pepper's Pride was never considered for the BC Classic and almost certainly would have been a longshot if she had, not a major player.

QR--- Because you say so?

Blame--- Im against, but the Foster and Whitney winner is under the radar?

L@L--- Is about ready to explode, TRUST.

4th- I wont comment on this filth.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

4th- I wont comment on this filth.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

QR--- Because you say so?

No, I was thinking of last year's Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup; and comparing his races this summer with those from this winter and spring.

He'd need a Black Tie Affair-type setup to win I think. As it stands, a runner-up finish after getting rundown in the last 1/16th seems like his ceiling.

[NoLuvForPletch]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Quality Road is a cross between Lemon Drop Kid and Bertrando, meaning he's tailing off and can't get the distance.

Blame in a normal year would be under-the-radar very much like previous winners Wild Again, Skywalker, and Awesome Again. And yet he's one of the "big 4".

Lookin At Lucky is about as accomplished as Louis Quatorze or Birdstone were, neither of whom were heavily backed in their respective Classics.

Pepper's Pride was never considered for the BC Classic and almost certainly would have been a longshot if she had, not a major player.

That is a pretty harsh condemnation of Looking At Lucky, don't you think? The only thing LQ and LAL have in common is that they both won the Preakness. LAL is a 5 time Grade 1 winner, who, like many others before him did not luck into winning the most over-hyped race in the game, The Kentucky Derby. What else has this horse done wrong?

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by NoLuvForPletch

That is a pretty harsh condemnation of Looking At Lucky, don't you think? The only thing LQ and LAL have in common is that they both won the Preakness. LAL is a 5 time Grade 1 winner, who, like many others before him did not luck into winning the most over-hyped race in the game, The Kentucky Derby. What else has this horse done wrong?

On their best days, I honestly doubt Lookin at Lucky could come close to Louis Quatorze. I think you should take a good look at his pps. Louis ran some VERY big races, in some VERY big races, at a time when there were some VERY good horses racing.

[Sightseek]

Don't they say this every year?

Not even half as good as the last at Churchill.

[Port Conway Lane]

I don't feel it's the strongest field in the last 10 years but what I do see is that there are four horses who have never run a poor race in their careers.
Similar to 2007 when four horses were superior on paper to the remainder of the field and Awesome Gem clunked up in the picture. The difference that year was that three of the four big names were 3YOs.

As much as Zenyatta has been overhyped there is still a tendency to under appreciate not only her but all of the major players because they are in the here and now. Looking back in the past we have the benefit of assessing completed careers of horses who at the time of their appearance in major races didnt necessarily make the fields they were in strong, but subsequently went on to establish themselves.

Maybe it's me but I don't get the hyperbole or the criticism.