I think the 1986-1989 BC were the best ones and certainly the best stretch in the series. I first went to one in 1986 at SA and got to see probably the deepest Juvenile field they've had. Capote beat Alysheba, Polish Navy, Gulch, Demons Begone, and Bet Twice. Has any Juvenile field ever produced horses that accomplished more as 3yos? Brave Raj dominated the Juv Fillies, including Sacahuista who went on to become the next year's 3yo filly champ and BC Distaff winner. Groovy disapppointed but there was a lot of excitement to see him going into the sprint. The Mile was a very exciting finish with Last Tycoon getting up to beat Palace Music in the final jumps. Lady's Secret put in her bid for HOY with an easy victory in the Distaff. One of our most underrated turf superstars, the 3yo Manila beat a field that included future Turf winner Theatrical, top mare Estrapade, and European superhorse and Arc winner Dancing Brave. The Classic was the race to decide HOY. Would it be Precisionist or Turkoman? Either would win the title with the win but Pincay rode Skywalker perfectly and he beat them both and clinched the title for Lady's Secret. For me, it was the best day of racing I've ever seen.
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The real horses of the year (1986-2020)
Manila, Java Gold, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Go for Wand, In Excess, Paseana, Kotashaan, Holy Bull, Cigar, Alphabet Soup, Formal Gold, Skip Away, Artax, Tiznow, Point Given, Azeri, Candy Ride, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Invasor, Curlin, Zenyatta, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Havre de Grace, Wise Dan, Wise Dan, California Chrome, American Pharoah, Arrogate, Gun Runner, Accelerate, Maximum Security, Gamine
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