The "It's way too early to do this so let's do it anyway!" prediction game thread

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Port Conway Lane

It seems odd to me that Frankel compared him to the Bid since he trained the only older male who has come remotely close to comparison in 30 years.

That quote of Frankel's was just days after his Preakness win. It's very easy for a lot of people to get swept up in the excitement of a horse with an undefeated record coming off of such a superb recent performance. I would suspect he was optimistic the horse would hold that form in future races by the "how he looks now" comment.

Also, I believe Ghostzapper had yet to even attempt a route race at the time of that quote. Ghostzapper had all very impressive and super fast races from the Vosburgh of his 3yo season on - but even comparing him and SB as just older males - he didn't travel as much and campaign as hard.

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

That quote of Frankel's was just days after his Preakness win. It's very easy for a lot of people to get swept up in the excitement of a horse with an undefeated record coming off of such a superb recent performance. I would suspect he was optimistic the horse would hold that form in future races by the "how he looks now" comment.

Also, I believe Ghostzapper had yet to even attempt a route race at the time of that quote. Ghostzapper had all very impressive and super fast races from the Vosburgh of his 3yo season on - but even comparing him and SB as just older males - he didn't travel as much and campaign as hard.

I forgot that GZ had not yet completed his 4yo season at that time.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

That quote of Frankel's was just days after his Preakness win. It's very easy for a lot of people to get swept up in the excitement of a horse with an undefeated record coming off of such a superb recent performance. I would suspect he was optimistic the horse would hold that form in future races by the "how he looks now" comment.

Also, I believe Ghostzapper had yet to even attempt a route race at the time of that quote. Ghostzapper had all very impressive and super fast races from the Vosburgh of his 3yo season on - but even comparing him and SB as just older males - he didn't travel as much and campaign as hard.

The thing is that the question wasn't what made me think that Smarty was as good or better than Bid or Secretariat but what made me think he was more talented than GZ. As I said when I posted those things, I wasn't using them as proof that he was but merely as examples of how there were quite a few people that were putting him in the same sentences with all-time greats so maybe it wasn't too far out in left field to think he was pretty damn good.

[Calzone Lord]

Undefeated horses have a mystique about them.

And when one of them wins a race with a genuinely great performance - it's very easy to get swept up in the excitement of it and the praise can get out of control.

A lot of flowery stuff was certainly also said about a horse like Candy Ride after his Pacific Classic win - or Discreet Cat after his Cigar Mile.

Ghostzapper was certainly the best older horse of the last 10 years. Smarty Jones is in the discussion (with horses like Tiznow, Point Given, Bernardini, and maybe Curlin) as best 3yo over that time frame.

SJ VS GZ is a classic 3yo vs older comparison - and if they met on the track - the older Ghostzapper would almost certainly win that match-up no matter how it plays out from a scenerio standpoint.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Undefeated horses have a mystique about them.

And when one of them wins a race with a genuinely great performance - it's very easy to get swept up in the excitement of it and the praise can get out of control.

A lot of flowery stuff was certainly also said about a horse like Candy Ride after his Pacific Classic win - or Discreet Cat after his Cigar Mile.

Ghostzapper was certainly the best older horse of the last 10 years. Smarty Jones is in the discussion (with horses like Tiznow, Point Given, Bernardini, and maybe Curlin) as best 3yo over that time frame.

You know, and I know you know, that Candy Ride at his best would have beaten GZ at his best, going 10f on dirt. Turf most likely as well.

Tiznow was a three year old eleven years ago.

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

SJ VS GZ is a classic 3yo vs older comparison - and if they met on the track - the older Ghostzapper would almost certainly win that match-up no matter how it plays out from a scenerio standpoint.

4yo GZ would have whooped on SJ, that much is for sure.

[King Glorious]

You may be right that GZ would have beaten Smarty. I think it would have been a tight race though. I'd also take Candy Ride over GZ.

[Indian Charlie]

I stand corrected.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I'd also take Candy Ride over GZ.

The difference between Ghostzapper and Candy Ride is Candy Ride had just one race like that - Ghostzapper had several.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The difference between Ghostzapper and Candy Ride is Candy Ride had just one race like that - Ghostzapper had several.

Candy Ride had three really good races here, including easily handling a grade one turf winner on the grass.