Certainly none more game than she. She has danced every dance beginning in Dubai, and still more to come in Japan and Hong Kong!!!
Still, all yesterday did was really throw a wrench in many categories. Fairly certain Dreaming of Anna cemented her Eclipse as Juvy Filly and I think Invasor is certainly Handicap horse and should be HOY, other than that, lots of questions.
I still give 3YO champ to Bernardini. Yes, Barbaro was great but the Preakness, Jim Dandy, Travers, and Jockey Club over elders, with a 2nd in the Classic is a better body of work than the Palm Beach, Holy Bull, FL Derby, and KY Derby. I just hope Bernardini comes back.
Sprinter???? No clue. Can't go Thor's Echo off only one win can you?? If not him, who? Henny had too few starts and failed on the biggest stage. May come down to a Met Mile win?
Distaff? Not Round Pond, same reason as Thor's Echo. Fleet Indian would get my nod.
Juvenile: Street Sense was impressive, very impressive so that likely gets him the nod, but are any truly worthy of being crowned a champion at this point?
3YO Filly: The division was hurt by the loss of Pine Island. Bushfire failed to make a case for her cause yesterday, so that leaves me to lean towards.... Wait A While. Grade 2 winner at GP, 2nd in the Ashland, 3rd in the Oaks, Dual G1 winner including a victory against elders, al beit on the turf. A better performance yesterday would have certainly helped, but who else is there?
Turf: This is as crazy as the Sprint division. Caicque and English Channel had their chances yesterday but failed. Slight nod perhaps to English Channel since he hit the board, but what if The Tin Man wins a big one at the Hollywood meet?
Filly and Mare Turf: Gorella, hands down despite Ouija Board's win. The little gal was right there in the Mile, only 1/2 maybe total out of the place spot.
Just to keep the argument going with old pal David from Loolvul:
Barbaro's season was cut short, but when he ran, he beat the best of his generation at their peak, including in the biggest race of the year, when all hands were on deck. He won on turf as well as dirt, and we won against full fields.
Bernardini beat some burnouts in the Preakness, nothing in the Jim Dandy, a hurt Bluegrass Cat in the Travers, and a few horses in the JCGC. None of that is his fault, but it is true that the one time he was tested, he was beaten.
Shouldn't but have to hold the injury against Barbaro. Head to head, Bernardini finished first. Unfair I know, but I think we often put too much emphasis on one race.
Guess I could also make a case for Aargorn for Turf Champion. Not a bad year and more wins than loses.
OK, David, I'll grant you your point that Bernardini can ourun Barbaro when the latter has a shattered leg. Other than that, I like the Dertby champ's chances
Seems that we're all pretty much on the same page that the Turf, 3YO Colt and Sprint are the ones up in the air.
2yo Filly - Dreaming of Anna -- hands down after her win
2yo Colt - Street Sense -- usually goes to the BC winner regardless of what they've done previously, after the blowout win hard to deny.
Sprinter - Henny's performance (nice ride JR) eliminates from contention. Of the remaining candidates, Bordonaro won the most and was most consistent - by default?
Turf - Wow! -- Miesque had a pretty good year, Aragorn had a pretty good year though feel he beat lesser than Miesque, BTN not enough, Cacique & English Channel knocked heads all year with EC finishing on the board Saturday wins that competition. All three chased The Tin Man and despite not going in the race on Saturday if he comes back and wins before end of the year it's between him and Miesque. Both good stories.
3yo Filly - Pine Island as Wait A While made her noise on the turf
Mare - Fleet Indian
3yo Colt - Barbaro - 2 G1s including the big one, 2 G3s, Turf & Dirt sentimental choice. Bernardini - beat short fields, though no denying the brilliance in which he did it, was a game 2nd Saturday -- ever been
co-3YO champs?
Handicap - Invasor
HOY - Invasor
This message has been edited by Forego on Nov 7, 2006 12:53 PM
The Tin Man IS training better now according to what I've heard, and has to definitely be on Mandella's mind that the old boy is sitting right in line to win an Eclipse after the way the BC came down. He even suggested back when he pulled TM from BC consideration that there was a possibility that he could run again before the end of the year.
I believe the race they would be most considering is the 8-1/2f GI Citation Hcp over Thanksgiving weekend. The other alternative would be the GI Hollywood Turf Cup at 12f on 12/9, but I don't think Richard would want to run him that far this late in the year, especially after having such a tough race in the Hirsch.
I would love to see him get that statue. He would be a much deserving winner, bless his heart.
