Spectacular Bid

[FATPIANO]

Thanks for posting, The Bid was the greatest ever

[FATPIANO]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Looking at the 70's the best I could - I have to think for sure he's the top rated horse since 1970.

He had that sprinter/miler pedigree and was basically a machine between the distances of 7 furlongs to 10 furlongs.




A perfect 24-for-24 record at 15 different tracks - 23 of the 24 wins coming by 1.5 lengths or more. 14 Grade 1 wins - a slew of track records set - a great champion at ages 2, 3, and 4 who ran in all regions.

Certainly faced a lot of quality competition in all regions. A consistantly great speed figure horse as well. He was faster than Affirmed and Seattle Slew on Ragozin at both 3yo seasons VS 3yo seasons and 4yo seasons VS 4yo seasons. Secretariat was faster than the Bid in his three triple crown wins vs Bid's 3 triple crown races .. but overall .. he was as fast and a lot more consistant than "Big Red" at age 3 .. and unlike Secretariat - he actually came back for a 4-year-old season - improved and dominated.

As we all know - that type of progression from age 3 to age 4 doesn't always happen.

and have to add that progression from age 2 to age 3 doesn't always happen either.............just look at all of the 2 yr old champions since The Bid, and not one has repeated as 3 yr old champion. He was AMAZING

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by FATPIANO

and have to add that progression from age 2 to age 3 doesn't always happen either.............just look at all of the 2 yr old champions since The Bid, and not one has repeated as 3 yr old champion. He was AMAZING

That void is over in 2 months.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

That void is over in 2 months.

I was just thinking that.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I was just thinking that.

Well, let's use Zenyattard type logic with this, and draw this out to it's logical conclusion.

If Spectacular Bid is the last 2yo champion to also be named 3yo champion, that makes Lookin at Lucky the best male horse since the Bid!!!

[lemoncrush]

Since this was way before I started following the sport, what was the reason for not going for the triple crown?

[smartbid09]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Paster was a complete monster. He just was unlucky, historically speaking.

I agree. Paster was a monster and it's a shame that he lost when it counted most.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by lemoncrush

Since this was way before I started following the sport, what was the reason for not going for the triple crown?

He did. He lost the Belmont - which is a 1 1/2 mile race.

Coastal beat him:



Coastal was a close 3rd to Affirmed and Bid in the 12f race following the last one shown on the pp cut above.

[FATPIANO]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Well, let's use Zenyattard type logic with this, and draw this out to it's logical conclusion.

If Spectacular Bid is the last 2yo champion to also be named 3yo champion, that makes Lookin at Lucky the best male horse since the Bid!!!

God forbid, Lucky could not come close to The Bid, and maybe the voters will vote for thr Best 3yr old this year, Eskenderyea and not Lucky

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by FATPIANO

God forbid, Lucky could not come close to The Bid, and maybe the voters will vote for thr Best 3yr old this year, Eskenderyea and not Lucky

I'd have to say that LAL is at least the equal of the Bid. LAL was able to win on TWO different surfaces! Until you can show me when the Bid did that, I'm going to rank LAL higher.

[FATPIANO]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I'd have to say that LAL is at least the equal of the Bid. LAL was able to win on TWO different surfaces! Until you can show me when the Bid did that, I'm going to rank LAL higher.

could I please have what you are drinking, must be some strong ****

[Rupert Pupkin]

Speaking of LAL, I heard that they just sold him for $16 million. I heard it on Saturday. I'm surprised I haven't seen it written anywhere yet. People have been talking about it for the last 4 days.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by FATPIANO

could I please have what you are drinking, must be some strong ****

It's a special drink that you can only buy in Southern California. It's Zenyatta Kool Aid.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

Speaking of LAL, I heard that they just sold him for $16 million. I heard it on Saturday. I'm surprised I haven't seen it written anywhere yet. People have been talking about it for the last 4 days.

Wow, that's pretty psychotic.

I don't really need to ask who the buyers are, do I?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Wow, that's pretty psychotic.

I don't really need to ask who the buyers are, do I?

Dan Snyder? It was either that or give McNabb a 6th year.

[FATPIANO]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

It's a special drink that you can only buy in Southern California. It's Zenyatta Kool Aid.

lol, it must a real strong drink

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by FATPIANO

lol, it must a real strong drink

Well, yeah, besides the usual sugars, artificial flavors and colors, and such, it also has jimson weed extract. Jimson weed is a plentiful plant, especially in Southern California, where I'd see it all the time when I'd go out and forage wild plants for myself.

From Wiki:

Datura intoxication typically produces a complete inability to differentiate reality from fantasy (delirium, as contrasted to hallucination); hyperthermia; tachycardia; bizarre, and possibly violent behavior; and severe mydriasis with resultant painful photophobia that can last several days. Pronounced amnesia is another commonly reported effect.

Also from Wiki:

In the United States the plant is called jimson weed, or more rarely Jamestown weed; it got this name from the town of Jamestown, Virginia, where British soldiers were drugged with it while attempting to suppress Bacon's Rebellion. They spent eleven days generally appearing to have gone insane:

And finally, from Wiki:

The James-Town Weed (which resembles the Thorny Apple of Peru, and I take to be the plant so call'd) is supposed to be one of the greatest coolers in the world. This being an early plant, was gather'd very young for a boil'd salad, by some of the soldiers sent thither to quell the rebellion of Bacon (1676); and some of them ate plentifully of it, the effect of which was a very pleasant comedy, for they turned natural fools upon it for several days: one would blow up a feather in the air; another would dart straws at it with much fury; and another, stark naked, was sitting up in a corner like a monkey, grinning and making mows [grimaces] at them; a fourth would fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces with a countenance more antic than any in a Dutch droll.

In this frantic condition they were confined, lest they should, in their folly, destroy themselves — though it was observed that all their actions were full of innocence and good nature. Indeed, they were not very cleanly; for they would have wallowed in their own excrements, if they had not been prevented. A thousand such simple tricks they played, and after eleven days returned themselves again, not remembering anything that had passed. – The History and Present State of Virginia, 1705

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Wow, that's pretty psychotic.

I don't really need to ask who the buyers are, do I?

I actually heard it was Coolmore.

[keithting]

The thing is that "The Bid" should have won the Belmont at 1 1/2 miles.

The morning of the race there was a mishap where the colt stepped on a pin. There was talk of scratching him for the race.

That combined with a very "green ride" by a very young Ronnie Franklin....

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I think if you rated the most outstanding Saratoga 3-year-old seasons of all time - General Assembley would be right up there.




He went 7fs in 1:21 flat in his first start at the meet as a 3yo - he won the Travers by 15 lengths over an off track in his other start that meet. The Beyer was 134 for that race according to Beyer's book 'The Winning Horseplayer'

A horse named Smarten - who entered the Travers on a six race win streak (all at the stakes level) was 2nd.



The 3rd place finisher in that Travers was Private Account - beaten a mere 26 lengths.



Private Account was a multiple Grade 1 winner as a race horse - but was better as a sire. He's the sire of the legendary Personal Ensign as well as the great Inside Information.

Champion filly Davona Dale was 4th beaten 28.75 lengths in the field of 7.


General Assembly only ran twice more after that - he was drubbed by The Bid and than cut back to win the Vosburgh in his final start. He faced Spectacular Bid six times .. and he lost all 6 matchups - never once getting closer than 2.75 lengths. He was 2nd in the Kentucky Derby. The Travers certainly would have been the day for him. He still holds the track record for 10 furlongs at Saratoga today.