Barbaro vs. Bernardini
 

Still no comparison in my opinion-

Barbaro would beat Bernardini easy

Here's why:

- Barbaro was undefeated if you throw out the Preakness, while Bernardini was losing allowance races not too long ago

- Barbaro won the derby in convincing fashion close to the lead in a race that was supposed to set up for a closer

- Bernardini won the Preakness against a horse with a bad pedigree who was worn down and a California horse in a year where the CA 3 yos have proven to be weak and inferior

- He won the Dandy against essentially no one since Sunriver didn't take to the mud

I'm not saying Bernardini's not a special horse, but Barbaro was a potential super horse

actually, they both lost one race-bernardini finished fourth in his first start, nothing but wins since. he's good--but so hard to compare two horses when they only faced off once, and one was unable to finish. i think barbaro is the better, he's shown so much ability on both turf and dirt, both slop and fast. he's obviously shown himself as having a tremendous heart and will.

I am going to sound like I am contradicting what I said in an earlier thread where I said I thought Barbaro was better, but really I don't think I am.

It is hard to say because Bernardini is just coming into his own and has not faced top class competition yet. It is difficult to compare the two right now. Barbaro is obviously more accomplished at this point, but where will Bernardini be at the end of the year?
As for your statement that Barbaro "would beat Bernardini easy" I think you may be wrong about that. Bernardini ran a 113 Beyer in the Preakness. Could Barbaro have beaten him that day? Perhaps, (in fact I think there is a good chance he would have) but three year olds that run 113s are rarely "beaten easily" while they do it.
And Bernardini was not "losing allowance races not too long ago." He lost his debut and nobody has finshed close to him sense then.

My God! I find myself defending this horse from some people, and trying to make others calm down about him. I think he is a really good horse, who MIGHT end up being a great horse but sometimes it seems like people have to say he is either a sure-fire HOY or an absolute bum.

I'm going the other way and picking Bernardini here. Barbaro ran huge one time in his life winning the Derby. His other dirt wins were nice but not at all awe inspiring. Bernardini has already ran huge twice by most accounts. I'll take the Darley colt to beat the Lael one!

Why either bother comparing the two. We will never know and it is all hypothetical. But we should just be lucky that we go to see a horse like Barbaro and we should feel lucky that we get to see a horse like Bernardini race. Each year there are going to be horses just as good so lets sit back and enjoy.

i disagree that barbaro only ran huge once...but to each his own. i think barbaro had plenty left in the tank, but there was a bigger picture. these last few years we've seen some horses really accomplish some things in the t.c., but imo he topped them all with his versatility.

I agree except I dont think you see horses like these two every year. Maybe with more exposure we will find holes in there game but neither have shown any.

No way we will ever know, but Bernardini has a chance to prove he is one of the best ever. The one thing Barbaro has on him is that we know how Barbaro will respond in a dogfight. He proved he will find a way to win. Bernardini has yet to prove that, but he might be so good he never has to prove it. Who knows though, he might collapse like a cheap suitcase if Invasor or Flower Alley lock up with him in a stretch run. Highly unlikely though.

Barbaro was just coming in to his own before the derby. . . he was gaining weight and maturing. . . i think he would've continued to improve

Unfortunately, no one will ever know. Bernardini ran huge in the Preakness, its tough to say if Barbaro could have matched him that day after dominating 14 days earlier at Churchill. I tend to think it would have been a hell of a stretch run between those two while the others toiled. No way of knowing who would win.

There is a reason horses don't smoke the Kentucky Derby like Barbaro did, it takes a special one. I think we will have a better understanding of Bernardini's level of special-ness (lack of a better term) come the end of the year.

This thread is a complete waste of time.

We might as well debate whether Ruffian would have beaten Foolish Pleasure.

Wait unti you get to heaven ... and ask God ... 'cause that's the only way you're ever going to find it out.