Deepest Derby Field

[Slewbopper]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

The Blood-Horse did an article a couple years back saying the '57 Derby was one of the best fields ever assembled.

The Florida Derby was the first horse race I remember watching. And the horse that won it, Gen. Duke, would probably have been favored in the Derby. He injured himself and was out of the Derby. His Calumet stable mate Iron Liege won it.

Gen. Duke, Round Table, Gallant Man, Iron Liege, Bold Ruler...Hard to argue with that group.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by Slewbopper

The Florida Derby was the first horse race I remember watching. And the horse that won it, Gen. Duke, would probably have been favored in the Derby. He injured himself and was out of the Derby. His Calumet stable mate Iron Liege won it.

Gen. Duke, Round Table, Gallant Man, Iron Liege, Bold Ruler...Hard to argue with that group.

But the rest of the field was nearly as good - Better Bee (20 wins, 7 stakes races, the King of Chicago); Federal Hill (10 wins, equalled the track record to win the Louisiana Derby, won the Derby Trial and the Ky JC S at 2); Mister Jive (15 wins lifetime, won the Cowdin and Summer S -new track record- at 2, the Gotham at 3); Shan Pac (won 25 races lifetime, set new track record winning the Churchill Downs H at 4); and Indian Creek, the worst of the lot - he only won 9 of 44 lifetime and was SP at 4.

[Pedigree Ann]

1969 saw 4 horses entered who were so strong that they scared away most of the rest of the eligibles. They were:

Top Knight - champion 2yo, won the Flamingo and the Florida Derby
Majestic Prince - won Santa Anita Derby, San Jacinto S, San Vicente S (dominated So Cal)
Arts and Letters - won the Everglades and Blue Grass S, second Flamingo and Florida Derby
Dike - won the Gotham and Wood Memorial
one of the long shots was Traffic Mark, who had won the Arkansas Derby and been second in the Blue Grass; he had won the Ky JC S at 2 as well. Only 3 others ran.

Majestic Prince won the Derby and Preakness, was second in the Belmont and never ran again. Meanwhile, Belmont winner Arts and Letters (who had prepped with a Met Mile win) went on to win the Travers, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup and be named Horse of the Year.

[horseofcourse]

1985 was an uderrated group....with Spend A Buck, Chief's Crown--a BC juvy winner and 7 or 8 time grade 1 winner, back to back BC Classic winners in Proud Truth and Skywalker, Tank's Prospect and Stephans Odyssey. 1986 had 4 superb ones in Ferdinand, Snow Chief, Broad Brush and Groovy as well.

[GPK]

I cant believe nobody has mentioned 2005!!!

Giacomo
Spanish Chestnut
Going Wild
Bandini
Closing Argument
High Fly
Andromedas Hero
Noble Causeway