dear bernardini fans....

Bernie was being compared routinely to an IMMORTAL, Seattle Slew, Bernie's grandfather. Even his sire A.P. Indy was not spoken of that way; yet he was a HOY and an instant Hall of Fame inductee. Bernie always had too much to live up to; it was riciculous and it started with the media, not the fans. I believe that Bernardini would have proven his greatness at four-years-old; he loses his chance because of short-sighted thinking. It hurts the sport because it alienates fans who truly love individual horses, fans like me. In Bernie I saw Slew traits, but I am not naive enough to think I saw Slew. That kind of greatness is rare indeed.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

IMO, Bernardini was as talented as the Slew, and I always compared the two because they reminded me of each other.

I mean, the horse runs second in the biggest race of his life on his B game. The horse totally got knocked out of his A game when he got sandwiched going into the first turn. Every time a horse gets hit like that, it takes them out of their game. Most don't even recover enough to get back into the race, but Bernardini did. In all of Bernardini's other races, he pulled Javier up to the lead. Well, I knew he was in trouble out of the first turn because he wasn't on the bridle and pulling at Javier. When Javier started asking him at the half mile, I said "Uh-oh". So, a three year old gets beat by a four year old. The distance...a length. Even Affirmed, Secretariat, and Spectacular Bid (three greats) lost to older.

The only horse that has come along in this millenium that had more talent than this horse was the great Ghostzapper (and Dubai Millenium...RIP) (I would put possibly put Point Given, Tiznow, and Barbaro near Bernardini) and even he didn't have Bernardini's conformation and movement which is going to play a major role in the quality of his offspring. I think that Bernardini goes on to be one of the greatest sires that ever lived. If you had a quality mare, his stud fee of a hundred thousand is a steal right now.

This horse was a monster. Even if you all don't think that he is, Bernardini knew that he was great. He carried himself so much higher and prouder than any other horse on the track. He knew that he was special, and he had that air about him that all the great racehorses do. He was spectacular to look at.

Also, if he would have remained on this track in his four year old year, there is no doubt in my mind he would have earned being called great.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

IMO, Bernardini was as talented as the Slew, and I always compared the two because they reminded me of each other.

I mean, the horse runs second in the biggest race of his life on his B game. The horse totally got knocked out of his A game when he got sandwiched going into the first turn. Every time a horse gets hit like that, it takes them out of their game. Most don't even recover enough to get back into the race, but Bernardini did. In all of Bernardini's other races, he pulled Javier up to the lead. Well, I knew he was in trouble out of the first turn because he wasn't on the bridle and pulling at Javier. When Javier started asking him at the half mile, I said "Uh-oh". So, a three year old gets beat by a four year old. The distance...a length. Even Affirmed, Secretariat, and Spectacular Bid (three greats) lost to older.

The only horse that has come along in this millenium that had more talent than this horse was the great Ghostzapper, and even he didn't have Bernardini's conformation and movement which is going to play a major role in the quality of his offspring. I think that Bernardini goes on to be one of the greatest sires that ever lived. If you had a quality mare, his stud fee of a hundred thousand is a steal right now.

This horse was a monster. Even if you all don't think that he is, Bernardini knew that he was great. He carried himself so much higher and prouder than any other horse on the track. He knew that he was special, and he had that air about him that all the great racehorses do. He was spectacular to look at.

Also, if he would have remained on this track in his four year old year, there is no doubt in my mind he would have earned being called great.

Personally I think it's an injustice to the Slew to compare Bernardini to him.
Frankly I don't see the similarity.

[kentuckyrosesinmay]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Personally I think it's an injustice to the Slew to compare Bernardini to him.
Frankly I don't see the similarity.

Well then that's your opinion, but I have always said that he reminded me of the Slew and he most certainly does. I believe that he was as talented as him, but of course, you couldn't actually put him in the same realm because Bernardini didn't race as a four year old and Slew accomplished much more on the track. Bernardini is going to become an outstanding sire though. As a stallion, he has it all.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Well then that's your opinion, but I have always said that he reminded me of the Slew and he most certainly does. I believe that he was as talented as him, but of course, you couldn't actually put him in the same realm because Bernardini didn't race as a four year old and Slew accomplished much more on the track. Bernardini is going to become an outstanding sire though. As a stallion, he has it all.

Of course its all opinion. I'm just wondering what yours is based on, that's all.
Slew won 14 races, won the triple crown, was a champion at 2,3, and 4.
What is it about Bernardini that is similar to that?
How about the Marlboro Cup when Slew was four? He beat the current triple crown winner Affirmed even though he had several excuses not to.

[avance2000]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Of course its all opinion. I'm just wondering what yours is based on, that's all.
Slew won 14 races, won the triple crown, was a champion at 2,3, and 4.
What is it about Bernardini that is similar to that?
How about the Marlboro Cup when Slew was four? He beat the current triple crown winner Affirmed even though he had several excuses not to.

yeah but jim.....slew naver had to tangle with the likes of doc cheney and hemingway's key. would he have even had a chance against such superstars?

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by avance2000

yeah but jim.....slew naver had to tangle with the likes of doc cheney and hemingway's key. would he have even had a chance against such superstars?

That's my point. I'm trying to remember who all was in that Marboro Cup because if i'm not mistaken it was a stellar cast in addition to Affirmed and Seattle Slew. Do you remember?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by kentuckyrosesinmay

Well then that's your opinion, but I have always said that he reminded me of the Slew and he most certainly does. I believe that he was as talented as him, but of course, you couldn't actually put him in the same realm because Bernardini didn't race as a four year old and Slew accomplished much more on the track. Bernardini is going to become an outstanding sire though. As a stallion, he has it all.

i won't rehash slews accomplishments at two, three and four. everyone knows his record.
i don't agree bernardini showed as much talent. he certainly didn't show any precocity as slew did. and of course slew never allowed his peers to catch up with him either.

as for having it all as a stallion...so did plugged nickel. a lot of horses with fantastic pedigrees end up standing in obscure places for less than huge money. bernardini will have a better shot than many at making it, as he'll get the BEST of mares. but he still has a an 80% chance of being a failure.

[avance2000]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Personally I think it's an injustice to the Slew to compare Bernardini to him.
Frankly I don't see the similarity.

of course it is an injustice!!
comparing an all-time great like slew to bernardini is absolutely laughable. i couldn't believe people were making those kind of comparisons before the bcc, and i certainly cannot believe that they are still doing it now. apparently it doesn't matter what we think though jim because "Bernardini knew that he was great." why analyze horses at all? just let the horses tell you who was great!! hell even if had finished last in the bcc.....he is still great because he thought he was!!! what wonderful logic!
oh by the way.....
the best horse seattle slew ever beat was.......Affirmed
the best horse bernardini ever beat was...........nobody worth remembering.