Who was closer to the Triple Crown...Smarty or Alex?

Originally Posted by eurobounce

It really isnt his fault that he hasnt beaten a large field or a good field. He has run in the biggest races for three year olds except for the Derby and Belmont. He also ran in one of the biggest races for older horses as well. So you cant fault the horse for his competition. You can only judge by what the horses does in the races he competes in.

Also, he really hasnt been asked in any of his races to set a track record. The Travers and JCGC he was freaking jogging the entire time. I judge a horse based on what he does in big races regardless of his competition. Also, the fact that so many trainers dont want to face tells me they also think he is the best horse out there. That speaks volumes to me.

Dini should be regarded as the best race horse in training today based on fact, not what if or what should be scenarios.

The notion that he could have run much faster in either of his last two "if asked" is something I don't buy.
Historically based on FACTS as you say, Ragozins guys have done vast studies(I dont know if TG and Jerry Brown have, I assume they have) on horses and their best and fastest races, and concluded solidly that hores run their fastest races under no pressure in "easy wins".
Its something I first became aware of in 1992, and have used that as a guideline ever since then, much to my advantage.
I also used to conclude off an easy win that a horse was "just jogging" or could have gone much faster, but I was wrong.
If you check out horses and their performances, they run their best races "while jogging". Smarty Jones preakness comes to mind. He earned his best number that day.
I'm not sold that he can go faster, but it may not be necessary for him to go faster on Cup Day.