Derby VS Twin Spires - '71-to-'80

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I know the least about that horse out of anyone you just named and am curious as to why you think he was probably the best of that crop. He won only 5 of 12.

On the farm leading up to his 2yo year, he was widely regarded by the Calumet handlers as the best colt they ever bred... better than Citation. During the winter leading up towards Derby, he alternated decisions with eventual Horse of the Year Bold Ruler in the Florida 3yo series with the Wheatley Nasrullah colt taking the Bahamas (7f) by 4 and Flamingo (9f) by a neck and Gen. Duke (Bull Lea-Wistful by Sun Again) copping the Everglades (9f) by a head and Florida Derby by 1.5.

Gen. Duke established the Florida Derby and Gulfstream 9f records in the Derby win, (and equaled the world record), 1:46.2. No one has gotten closer than 1:47.0 since. And that was Alydar. Gen. Duke got beat subsequently in the Blue Grass (Iron Leige) and Derby Trial (Federall Hill), and there's no telling how good he was going to be the rest of the year. But he was going into the Derby as favorite when he was scratched Friday night. He never raced again. He developed the wobbles and died in 1958.