Best Performances of the Last Decade
 

Afleet Alex in the 2005 Preakness
Ghostzapper in the 2004 Breeders Cup Classic
Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont
Curlin in the 2007 Preakness
Point Given in the 2001 Belmont Stakes
Monarchos in the 2001 Kentucky Derby
Zenyatta in the 2009 Breeders Cup Classic *insert gasp from all the Zenyatta haters*
Rachel Alexandra in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks
Rachel Alexandra in the 2009 Preakness Stakes
Rachel Alexandra in the 2009 Woodward
Tiznow in the 2000 Breeders Cup Classic
Tiznow in the 2001 Breeders Cup Classic

What else?

I fixed that one for you.

hahahaha
Very funny Charlie.
But I like your opinions a lot so what's not on my list in your opinion?

I disagree with about half of those.

Seriously, what was so great about either Curlins preakness or RA for that matter? What was so special about the BC Classic last year, as a horse race effort that is.

Rags Belmont, cmon that was such an average race.

I think you are confusing what a great effort is and what is a historic event in the sport. The two are mutually exclusive.

english channel breeders cup turf

The Tin Man smoking English Channels azz in the Arlington Million. LOL:)

Ghostzapper's Vosburgh

Pleasant Home's BC Distaff..

Ship's Cabin breaking his maiden at CD last fall

:tro::tro::tro:

Tin Cup Chalice sweeping the Big Apple Triple for the first and only time in 2008 .

Kona Gold winnig his BC Sprint . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIM-BmN55go

Ghostzappper AND Saint Liam in the Woodward '04.

it's titled best performances of the last decade...historically they may not stack up of course. what do you think fits the bill?

Very good point! I could agree with you that there is a line between a great performance and a historic event. But I feel the ones you are taking issue with are Incredible Performances that happen to be "historic".

For example, RA's win in the preakness was historical ,but it was also one of the best performances of the decade. RA won the Preakness from gate 13! A Post Postion that would seem a death sentence to a lesser horse. But she over came that - the first horse in history to do so mind you. But I only use history to prove my point - RA had a lot stacked against her! Forget the quality of the field, this race was not a walk in the park. It took RA's best effort to win and she sure as heck gave it. RA ran the Preakness going virtually wire to wire! She was a filly taking on the boys. She held off a late charge from a fast closing Mine That Bird and won the race in an awesome time! Certainly one of the best performances of the decade! Historical or not. What more could you ask for from a horse.

Curlin's Preakness certainly belongs on a list of the top performances of the last decade. Curlin ran a thrilling stretch duel with Street Sense in a time equal to the track record. (Curlins time was equal to Secretariat's un-official track record time which no horse has ever beaten mind you). Equaling Secretariat's time, along with running an incredible stretch duel - what more could you want to qualify a performance as great! This was certainly a highlight performance of the last decade.

Rags to Riches performance in the 2007 Belmont Stakes was incredible and surely belongs on a list entitled "best of the decade". Rags had to battle back and give her all to defeat a very game and determined Curlin. Not to mention the fact that she was taking on the boys and that she stumbled at the start! A lesser horse would not have won. What a performance! Historical or not.

Candy Ride in '03 Pacific Classic

:tro:
I agree, Im not really feeling this list....
How about this list...

Commentators Whitney, Holding off future BCC and HOY St Liam

Azeri at Saratoga, a lot of people thought she was finished and she turns back Sightseek in a big way

I would put Curlins JCGC ahead of his Preakness... Lawyer Ron was in great form and he just gunned him down. Would also put Curlins Dubai World Cup ahead of his Preakness, and his BCC ahead of the Preakness.

Bernardinis Preakness... I think he was 11-1, RIP Barbaro but even if he does not break down, I highly doubt he was beating Bernardini on that day.

Left Banks Whitney, turning back Street Cry... 121 beyer

Ghostzappers Woodward vs St Liam, the 2 of them way out in the center of the track.

Borrego, WOW.... His JCGC, I think people forget about this effort, IT WAS GIGANTIC... I think its the race where Todds horse was supposed to be a rabbit but ended up dueling with Flower Alley

Invasor, gunning down Sun King, Whitney

Midnight Lute off 1 FLOP of a prep, winning his second straight BC sprint

Big Effort.

to me two things can make a great effort, either a display of brilliance so dominating or a race in which a horse overcomes when the odds where stacked against them winning.

Couple that stand out to me have been mentioned, Ghostzappers Vosburough, Left Banks Whitney, Candy Rides Pacific Classic, Azeri's BC Distaff, Afleet Alex's Preakness.

IF I had to pick on of Zenyatta's races it would be the race she seems most criticized for because who she beat, the Clement Hirsch last year because at the top of the stretch 99/100 horses lose that race.

IF I had to pick any of RA's races it would be the Mother Goose, I thought it was her most dominating effort. The Preakness was solid, so was the Haskel.

Barbaro's Kentucky Derby, Big Brown's Kentucky Derby

Smarty Jones in the Preakness was one of those "wow" races. You didn't need to check the clock to know how good he was that day.

More than a few runnings of the Preakness have been impressive. Bernadini and Funny Cide as well.