Holy Bull/Concern 94 Travers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPezwDz9MC8

Was Artie Schiller ever not in a stretch rule? Freaking hanger. Anywho.

Theatrical/Trempolino 87 BC Turf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noi82...eature=related

I'm pretty sure he won the one that counted the most.

NT

'Tis true. I am pretty sure he lost by a head, neck, or nose the other 37 times I bet him though.

Bet Twice/Lost Code/ Alysheba in the 1987 Haskell:tro:

You gotta add the '88 San Bernadino to that Alysheba v. Ferdinand series:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZjyP...eature=related

Sadly, this race is now known as the Tokyo City and is run at 12f on Pro-Ride.

The Precisionist and Greinton rivarly from 85 really needs to be on youtube.

Good catch

Can you imagine a time when the best horses actually raced against other and didnt need 2 months off or a specific surface or set up to run?

It seems as though when the great horses are talked about Alysheba's name is always mentioned yet Ferdinand's isnt. Which is a shame because they were really as close a matched pair of horses that there could be.

Ferdinand lost too many close ones. I think he only ended up with maybe 8 career victories. In addition to his close loses to both Broad Brush and Alysheba, he also got nostrilized by Snow Chief in the Strub if I remember it right. That said, he certainly was a cool horse to watch.

As far as Alysheba goes, in retrospect, how great was his '88 campaign? A lot of layers to it. First, he settled the rivalry started in the '87 BC Classic by beating Ferdinand in back to back races. The middle of the year he spent essentially renewing his rivalry with Bet Twice, losing to him in the resurrected Pimlico Special (Lost Code was there too) but beating him in the Iselin and Meadowlands Cup. The last part of the year, he took on 3yos, beating Forty Niner in the Woodward and Seeking The Gold in the BC Classic. Add in two track record times in the Woodward and Meadowlands Cup at 10f.

He basically beat the best from 3 crops of horses ('86, '87, and '88) in a single season.

Silver Charm - Wild Rush dead heating in the 1998 Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway. Both jocks with heads down whipping and urging, not even looking up for the length of the stretch. Fantastic!

Watch and see which one wins. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Grq60afzc

John Henry and Spence Bay in the 1981 Oak Tree Invitational
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6GnMbAu2lc

Victory Gallop and Behrens in the 1999 Whitney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7UIKALfM8


I have no video for this one, and I doubt there's one out there anywhere, because it's not a really high-profile race, but I will never forget the stretch run of the 2002 El Encino Stakes between Affluent and Royally Chosen. Not only was it a battle between the fillies, but it was a real test of will between Delahoussaye and Solis with Affluent (Eddie D) prevailing in the end by a nose.

Is there anyone out there that remembers that race besides me?

The Labred Bet Me Best versus Texas Glitter in the 1999 Hutcheson.

Not many remember it, but the stretch run of Tiffany Lass and Patricia J.K. in the 1986 Fair Grounds Oaks was pretty good.

Ok Chuck, now I'ma have to watch some Ferdinand/Alysheba replays! :D

Sometimes the greatest stretch drives are just too much. Was it the Fountain of Youth (or the Hopeful??) a few years back that produced a killer stretch run by Read the Footnotes and Second of June. Not sure if either one was ever the same again.