1) Canonero II: Set a Preakness record which is still one of the fastest times ever for that race. The effects of a bad skin infection may have been the only thing that kept him from winning the Belmont and the Triple Crown - as it was, at the end of the year he was still considered good enough to be voted top 3yo colt for 1971. The following year he set a world record for 1 1/8 miles in the Stymie Handicap, beating Riva Ridge. P.S. - does anybody remember a TV documentary titled "The Ballad of Canonero II", that was broadcast immediately before the 1972 Derby?
2) Noor: Beat Citation fairly four times in a row in 1950, setting a world record each time. His time for 1 3/4 miles still stands. Probably only a loss to Hill Prince in the Jockey Club Gold Cup later that year prevented him from being voted Horse of the Year. Trivia note: Noor was owned by Charles Howard, who of course had also owned Seabiscuit.
3) Sham: In any other year.... 'Nuff said.
Over-rated:
1) Omaha: Never won more than 2 consecutive races. "So how did he win the Triple Crown?" you ask. Simple: between the Preakness and the Belmont, he lost the Withers. Apart from the TC, he had a rather ordinary career.
2) Fusaichi Pegasus: Lotsa speed, but no heart. If he hadn't won the Derby, he would be largely forgotten by now.
