Yes it was as bad. Because it was farther down the stretch, in the Kentucky Derby the first long distance race, of the year for any horse at that point, and up until then Alysheba only had one official career victory in a maiden the year previous. He won the Bluegrass Stakes, but he was dq'd and placed 3rd. While Afleet Alex's stumble may have been more impressive, and the media made that the Preakness story the Alysheba clip was more impressive because of the situitation. After Afleet Alex stumbled he had clear open space in front of him, as Scrappy T veered out. When Alysheba clipped heels, he regained his balance then took a run at the lead, Bet Twice veered in front of him blocking his path and Alysheba slowed down then went around Bet Twice and beat him at the line by 3/4 of a length. Clipping heels no matter how far a horse goes to his knees, slowed his momentum, Alysheba then regained it, only to have his momentum slowed down a second time when Bet Twice veered in front of him, then he further expended himself by going around a sporadic running Bet Twice. Anyone who watched that race several times should be able to pick up on that. Exactly no American horse in the past 25 years or so, can go compete in the Ascot Gold Cup why?.
