Your best "top pick" Derby selection from the past

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I picked up on him in Arkansas. I figured that any horse who won the Laurel Futurity -- which in 1997 was at 1 1/8 on the dirt -- loved longer distances.

He was awesome!

Lost in the 1998 BC Classic was his near miss (4th, one length) off of a long layoff (Travers Stakes).

Didn't he have a great battle against Behrens in the 1998 Stephen Foster?

The great battle you're talking about was the 1999 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga and it was a terrific race. Unfortunately, VG was injured a few days later, blowing the handicap division wide-open, allowing Cat Thief to become one of the worst BC Classic winners ever three months later.

NT