Don't Look Amateurish By Falling Into The 4YO vs 3YO Trap

Originally Posted by Kasept

Bobo,

I don't necessarily understand the point...

There doesn't seem to be any reason NOT to compare Bernardini's exploits so far to Dr. Fager's (at three), or how about Damascus'? Actually, a horse at three he resembles a bit in terms of accomplishment might be Conquistador Cielo.

Why can't comparisons be made through the respective career arcs?

When posters compare Bernardini to say, Spectacular Bid ... they really have the 4YO campaign of Spectacular Bid in mind ... in which he blasted track records to pieces and destroyed his competition.

Spectacular Bid was a great 3YO champion .... but he didn't set the world on fire then. Bernardini's 3YO campaign ... especially if he wins the BC Classic ... is at least as good ... if not better than ... Spectacular Bid's 3YO campaign ...

... and just as good or better than other great 3YOS ... like Damascus, Sword Dancer, Art And Letters, Buckpasser, Kelso, Bold Ruler, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, etc. ...

... as good or better than everyone other than Secretariat, Citation, and Man O' War.

There have been 4YOS who had better records than Bernardini has this year ... but that's a false comparison. Let's wait to see what Bernardini does as a 4YO ... God/Allah and the Sheikh willing ... before making those comparisions.

P.S. The best comparison to 3YO Bernardini would be Kelso ... a late-starting 3YO who swept everything in sight ... including defeating older horses ... in the Fall.