Best horses of the 1980's by division

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

What were Forty Niner's numbers like at 2? IIRC, he lost his debut and won 5 or 6 straight, culminating with the Champagne.

Pretty solid - he was one I considered. Not going to the West Coast for the Breeders Cup hurt his case. He actually wasn't favored in a 2yo stakes race until his final start - when he took the '87 Breeders Futurity by a nose over Hey Pat at 2/5.

I honestly remember very little from 80's racing mostly outside of SS and EG. You had a lot of cool 2yo's in that '89 year. Grand Canyon was insane in his two races after losing the BC in a race which he arguably was best in. Summer Squall - I was very surprised how good he was at age 2. Champagne For Ashley had a freaky form and real good numbers - but facing 80's NY Breds really dampens any idea that he was a monster.

Easy Goer ran a 118 Beyer in the Champagne at age 2. The horse who was 3rd by almost 20 lengths came back and won a Grade 1 500K 2yo stakes race next time out at 15/1. Is It True got thumped in 2nd - and he won the BC Juvie next out. I think it's easy to forgive EG's Breeders Cup defeat when you consider by far his worst number at age 3 came at CD over a similar wet racetrack.