HASKIN: Best stretch duels, 2000-2009
 

Most Memorable Two-Horse Stretch Battles
28 Dec 2009 1:02 PM

Steve Haskin's Look Back at the Decade

Editors of The Blood-Horse challenged senior correspondent Steve Haskin to fill in the blanks on several “best of” lists for the decade of 2000-2009. While several of them appear in the Dec. 26/Jan. 2 combined issue of the magazine (mailing on Dec. 29), there wasn’t space for them all.

Over the coming days until the end of the year, all of Steve’s lists will be posted here with readers of BloodHorse.com encouraged to comment.

Most Memorable Two-Horse Stretch Battles

1. Tiznow - Giants Causeway 2000 BC Classic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRnirUnNJFg

2. Tiznow - Sakhee 2001 BC Classic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdYsb0tUD5s

3. You - Carson Hollow 2002 Test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCuJjhBBCSs

4. Rags to Riches - Curlin 2007 Belmont
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URl70KylKZg

5. Read the Footnotes - Second of June 2004 Fountain of Youth

6. Ghostzapper - Saint Liam 2004 Woodward
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyQvNu-XQoQ

7. Lava Man - A P Xcellent 2007 Hollywood Gold Cup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBj_fpKTrAY

8. Curlin - Lawyer Ron 2007 JC Gold Cup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOtkuPda-ik

9. Proud Spell - Music Note 2008 Alabama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4_OyLjPC9U

10. Milwaukee Brew - Congaree 2003 Santa Anita Handicap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNmaTQ5D2ts

11. Tiago - Heatseeker 2008 Oaklawn Handicap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYIY69jDv4c

12. Ginger Punch - Hystericalady 2007 BC Distaff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaZUnRxWz2o

13. Invasor - Sun King 2006 Whitney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XiQnVrzj0c

14. Buddha - Medaglia d'Oro 2002 Wood Memorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bmmpnhnTwc

15. Hard Spun - First Defense 2007 King's Bishop
NOT AVAILABLE.. This is KY Cup Classic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pflXyCer9o

16. Tiago - Awesome Gem 2007 Goodwood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT106UxtRuQ

17. Toccet - Kafwain 2002 Hollywood Futurity

18. Unshaded - Albert the Great 2000 Travers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWtls_wTNLc

19. Hal's Hope - High Yield 2000 Florida Derby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntVcY5CXnqI

20. Street Sense - Any Given Saturday 2007 Tampa Bay Derby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWm_o9o6TbU

Not one I care to watch again. You might be able to pick up some bad language emanating from the grandstand balcony after the finish.

Fun list though, I'm just waiting on someone to count down Haskin's 1000 best 3YO of the decade. :D

NT

Very cool providing the links!

I'd put Proud Spell - Music Note over Lava Man and Curlin's respective races. I wasn't there for Lava Man's race, but the Alabama that year in my opinion was more thrilling than the JCGC.

The top 6 are great choices. I don't get the love of Tiago's races over some of the others.

How awesome was Durkin in calling the first 6 races on this list?

I like this Invasor effort a little better than the one nominated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orNmY-O5FSA

#14 for me.

A personal favorite:

Happy Ticket v. Round Pond in the 2006 Azeri Stakes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3r0wTvOOdU

Street sense- Grasshopper Travers was ok

Southernmostpoint and Chief Export ding donging it all the way down the stretch, with Southernmostpoint getting the head bob. Oct 17 at Bel, 1st race.

How can he forget Kickin N Screamin edging out Bill Trujillo in his final race as a jockey in a thriller at Turfway?

Paul

What a great thread and great list!!!! Thanks for posting. Watching these races makes me wonder how one can not love this wonderful sport.

#2 and #4 for me.

How about the "Ghostzapper.. Clock Stopper.. Clock Stopper... Ghostzapper" ALW race at Saratoga...?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oLk73ijoAk

o5 whitney commentator/saint liam

06 bama'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13QO4zj5yuU

pine island that could have been a great one r.i.p

Grasshopper-Circular Quay wasn't bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O-pMncdZyo

you and carson hollow my favorite

:tro:

agreed. Happy Ticket ran a couple great races at Oaklawn in 2006.

TVG showed the Azeri/Take Charge Lady stretch battle from the Apple Blossom about 87 thousand times.