Which horse in past BC's...?
 

... was your biggest, stone-cold lock, no chance he/she will lose, autmomatic winner on paper...but lost? Where it shocked you he/she lost? Am i making any sense with this?

For me, it was the Rock of Gibraltor ("THE ROCK") in the '02 BC Mile. The horse was undefeated that year and he was a Euro. 'Nuff said. I remember he ran that whole race at the back of the pack... like he was really sluggish, and then he came with a huge run, but it wasn't quite enough... That one still makes me scratch my head...

the rock was a lock..

I was all about Composure. I was cheering like a winner in that stretch, and then the damn Storm Flag Flying came back and took it. I really thought Composure was a Derby type filly. We never got to find out... :(

When you are talking about a favorite I thought couldn't lose....Well I didn't bet her but Riboletta comes to mind. She was soooo good back then and just had a really off day. Spain didn't even run a very fast race. A lot of mares were over the top in that race.

Randall! Thank you! I don't know why I couldn't phrase it that concise... It's so eay I make it ten times harder than it has to be lol. That's exactly what I meant...

Everyone thought Officer was a lock in his BC Juvee.

I don't believe in "locks" anymore. I was famous from about 2000-2002 on the old ESPN board for guarenteeing certain "lock" horses' defeats in big races (e.g.- FuPeg in Preakness&Classic, Riboletta in Distaff, etc). I still do it and I'll mention my "lock" defeats closer to this year's Holiday. After about '02, I realized that I can't possibly claim a horse to be a lock if I scoff at the public's locks.

However, I have still fallen victim to the bug. Ouija Board the last two Cups and probably this Cup as well, and Vindication are my strongest locks. Tiznow was perhaps my all-time lock in '01, but that was more emotional confidence that he would get it done. I, too, was all over Rock of Gibralter. 2002 really irritated me because favorites won 3 of the first 4 races and the Rock wasn't one of them. I'm still miffed at that.

Since Cup day became a holiday in my house back in 2000, I've been supremely confident in several horses other than the four mentioned. She's a Devil Due, Tempera, Starine, Island Fashion, and Artie Schiller ('04 loss) jump to mnd.

[quote=pmayjr]... was your biggest, stone-cold lock, no chance he/she will lose, autmomatic winner on paper...but lost? Where it shocked you he/she lost? Am i making any sense with this?

QUOTE]

Slew O Gold

Regarding winning picks at a price...Anees was my best...Longshots I got nipped on...Miafara, twice. I bet Landseer in Rocks race at Arl.

Leroidesanimaux!

Oh I know there are a bunch of folks who had Rock of Gib. as a stone cold lock. I remember it very well on BC day when he went down. And Pops had the winner and did not bet him.

God, that was a horrible race for more reasons than one!

His BC ride that year had to be one of the worst rides I've ever seen. Didn't a horse break down in that race forcing him to swerve too? He was my lock that year also. I should have quit playing after he lost. Couldn't cash anything that year.

He did have a bad ride, but it was clear as he came like a freight train the winner was going just as hard. The Rock would not have won that race, as some suggested, if it was 1 f further. He was beat in the first half of that race. Domedriver had him by the end.

Artie in '04, not because he just lost but he ran so poorly.

Horrendous job by Belmont last year not announcing that aluminum pads were on this horse until very late. Most of the wagering public didn't realize that. I played Host so I didn't care, but you simply have to get out info like that in a timely manner.

Riboletta, and Rock of Gibraltar

Philcski,
Believe it or not, I had Singletary in the '04 BC Mile. Over Artie, and over Antonius Pius. It was the only thing I won all day lol. Artie was a Lukewarm favroite in a wide-open race I thought. I didn't think he was a lock at all that day. I remember Stven Christ say about Singletary after the BC, that "for his odds there were a lot better longshots worth betting". I was like... sure guy... way to pad your excuse for leaving him off your ticket.

I thought Leriodesanemaux the next year was the bigger lock, and Artie finally got it done lol. Timimg seems to go a long way in this sport lol.

With Anticipation

not really.

he was winning his races without having to work,and you knew that would not be the case on BC Day.
lots of you know Jo'Berg is one of my all time favs.
I had NO idea how to handicap back then, but I was right in that race.
just pure luck I guess.


Repent

lol,
that was funny.
I hated that horse.


to answer the question at hand,
The Rock.
no question about it.
I dont go as far back as some of you, so my perspective and races to choose from are somewhat limited.

but since, say 2000, it has to be Rock of Gibraltar.
the other, and a close 2nd, is Kittens Joy.
best US bred, owned, and trained turf horse I have ever seen.
obviously he had a valid excuse for not running up to his ability, but at the time, I had never been more disappointed.

Repent

Slew O' Gold and Riboletta

[quote=Slewbopper]a healthy slew would have won that race. bad foot, they only ran him to help out the bc start up. funny that he and wild again ended up at the same farm.

azeri
rock of gibraltar

I had DomeDriver on a tip from the Racingpost website.

those euros are hard to figure. they don't give fractions and their comments are a joke

[quote=Danzig188] It cost Slew O' Gold HOY. John Henry stayed home and won the award. I was ticked.:mad:

yeah,
you may be right.
Ive seen Lure,
but only on tape(selected races).
KJoy was the best US bred,owned and trained turf horse I have seen every race for.
hes the best one I have cashed a ticket on.
hes the best one that I have capped a race for.......................etc

thats what I meant.
Im not saying he was better than JHenry(who I have obviously seen tape of) or any of the other greats.
I do think he deserves to be mentioned with them though.


Repent

my "lock" this year is definately...
Lemons Forever (Distaff)
she loves CD, and will get a good pace set up
Dallas is deadly!

Leroidesanimaux, Kitten's Joy, Sightseek

All 'locks' or close to what people would say a lock is - all won that I can think of.....which was only a few because proverbial locks rarely come along in the Breeders' Cup...

The horse that I really thought would win that didn't was Medaglia de Oro in the '04 Classic, but he should have won IMO...he was dueled into submission by Congaree through the first mile of the race and held on very bravely after putting that horse away to be a valiant second....

If Congaree isn't in that race pushing him hard, Medaglia wins easy over Pleasantly Perfect....thats the first horse I really expected to win that didn't as far as what first comes to mind with me....

I'd say either Kitten's Joy or Leroidesanimaux.

It was actually '03 Joel and i didnt consider MDO too much of a lock considering he never won past 9 furlongs on a dry track. I did like that horse though. Game as they come and a machine at 9 furlongs.

Of course the Rock was a big surprise but not as big as Ouija Board last year. I was really surprised to see her go down.

[quote=Bold Reasoning]yeah, they were both a bit beat up....can't say i blame them for not running john. both great horses, but i'd have voted for SOG!!

Just the opposit of locks was myself capping Spain and Beter Talk nNow only to talk myself out of. Just a case of not having the KNUTTS to play and let the odds tell me something otherwise.

Yeah, menat '03....the Rock was a lock for the most part, but I know how hard the Mile and Sprint are to win, espescially for come-from-behinders - so I wasn't as surprised there.....he was heads and shoulders the best though...no doubt about it...his turn of foot when he got loose was amazing.....he was flying past horses like their hooves were cemented in the turf course.....that finish, although not a winning one - was a great consolation for me and I'm sure most racing fans....

Oh, and Medaglia would have won the Classic at 1 1/4 miles had he not been pushed so hard by the classy Congaree...I really believe that...

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

RIBOLETTA

Has to be. Couldn't fathom her losing with her form the way it was.



--Note, the people who said FuPeg are crazy. He was astoundingly overbet and had raced so little after the Preakness that year. The only shock was his price. Not that he was up the track.

Itsallgreektome

I've never had the "lock" experience. It would probably require a walkover for me to consider a bet a "lock".

How about Easy Goer in the Juvenile? He was a huge fav, and finished 2nd to 9-1 Is It True.

--Dunbar