Since the 1960`s it has been commonplace to retire a top 3 year old at the end of the season. It is the economics of racing as the horse can earn much more money at stud than he can in racing and there is little chance of a horse’s breakdown at a stud farm.
Are you twisting the competition angle to suit your fancy? The conservative Daily Racing Form said the JCGC in 2006 was not exactly the strongest field it had ever seen. Wanderin Boy is a cheap speed horse that would come back to any horse. It is not that difficult to catch a cheap speed horse that has an easy lead.
Envision if Wanderin Boy had been Dr. Fager loose on the lead, then Bernadini would not have caught up with Dr. Fager or any top speed horse for that matter. Speaking of Beyers Bernadini`s range is 118 to 120 which is great but far short of Dr. Fager, Damascus, Secretariat etc who ran in a top range of 132 to 138. Discreet Cat(121 Beyer)has enough early kick to burn out Bernadini but he would knock himself out in the process and hand the race to Lava Man. That is why they have opted to go to different races with Bernadini and Discreet Cat. You are too impressionable about “Greatest Evers.” Bernadini is just another good top who would not be getting this much attention if Barbaro did not break down in the Preakness.
