Top Thoroughbreds (2000 to present)

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Given how US racing has moved towards sprinters its a weak group of sprinters there, I mean Cajun Beat and LITF are nice horses but hardly the type I think would have competed with the horses of the 80's and 90's.

Those are 3-year-old sprinters.

A lot of potentially top class 3yo sprinters are ruined by their connections who try to impose their will on these horses to make them routers.

In rare cases (Afleet Alex for instance) -- trainers can be successful on imposing their will and transforming a horse who really just wants to sprint into becoming a top class route horse.

In some cases -- horses will survive their failed attempts to be made into a router and revert back to sprinting with great success. Groovy, Artax etc. etc. etc.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

In some cases -- horses will survive their failed attempts to be made into a router and revert back to sprinting with great success. Groovy, Artax etc. etc. etc.

Trinniberg, though of course it was only one route race.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Those are 3-year-old sprinters.

A lot of potentially top class 3yo sprinters are ruined by their connections who try to impose their will on these horses to make them routers.

In rare cases (Afleet Alex for instance) -- trainers can be successful on imposing their will and transforming a horse who really just wants to sprint into becoming a top class route horse.

In some cases -- horses will survive their failed attempts to be made into a router and revert back to sprinting with great success. Groovy, Artax etc. etc. etc.

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

A claim made on impression that can't be backed up.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

A claim made on impression that can't be backed up.

Well, you really can't back up anything you assert in this thread.

However, he did break his maiden by like 10 going long.

His next start, he lost the HP Futurity to Real Quiet by a nose or so.

His early 3yo season form, all routes, was outstanding, all while developing anemia and being trained by Randy Bradshaw, perhaps the worst trainer in Southern California history. By the time the classics rolled around, he was a wreck.

Anyone who races a horse while knowing its anemic should receive electro shock therapy.

Do you need me to define anemia for you? His races against RQ and IC at that time were utterly fantastic considering.

[Calzone Lord]

It's a shame Artax was wasted in sprint races, I suppose.

When he was drilling superstar sprinters like Kona Gold and Big Jag while breaking Mr. Prospector's track record at GP and running monster number after monster number ... he could have been doing so much more in route races.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

It's a shame Artax was wasted in sprint races, I suppose.

When he was drilling superstar sprinters like Kona Gold and Big Jag while breaking Mr. Prospector's track record at GP and running monster number after monster number ... he could have been doing so much more in route races.

That's not my point at all, and you know that.

He was an all around freak. I don't know how he'd have done on turf, but he reminded me a bit of Ack Ack, a forgotten wonder horse.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Anyone who races a horse while knowing its anemic should receive electro shock therapy.

Consider who owned Artax. Not exactly known for having the welfare of the horse as a top priority.

[Calzone Lord]

Artax's final race was the 1999 Breeders Cup Sprint, if anyone is wondering why he's not on the list of sprinters.

Indian Charlie's list would be made up of mostly all cripples. Which is fine, if you don't consider durability an important trait.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

2yo Male: Uncle Mo, War Pass, Macho Uno, Stevie Wonderboy
2yo Female: Tempera, Storm Flag Flying, Halfbrideld, My Miss Aurelia
2yo Turf Male: Barbaro, Peace Rules, Interactif, Cowboy Cal
2yo Turf Female: Dreaming of Anna, J'Ray, Fantastic Filly, Winter Memories
2yo Male Sprinter: Officer, Came Home, Afleet Alex, Roman Ruler
2yo Female Sprinter: Cashier's Dream, Beholder, You, Hot Dixie Chick,

3yo Male: Smarty Jones, Tiznow, Point Given, Bernardini
3yo Female: Rachel Alexandra, Rags To Riches, Blind Luck, Royal Delta
3yo Turf Male: Kitten's Joy, Conduit, High Chaparral, Rock Of Gibraltor,
3yo Turf Female: Banks Hill, Ouija Board, Goldikova, Six Perfections
3yo Male Sprinter: Caller One, Squirtle Squirt, Lost In The Fog, Cajun Beat
3yo Female Sprinter: Xtra Heat, Indian Blessing, Madcap Escapade, Lady Tak
Older Male: Ghostzapper, Mineshaft, Medaglia D' Oro, Congaree
Older Female: Zenyatta, Azeri, Havre De Grace, Riboletta,
Older Turf Male: Fantastic Light, Leroidesanemeaux, Wise Dan, English Channel,
Older Turf Female: Godikova, Ouija Board, Golden Apples, Voodoo Dancer
Older Male Sprinter: Kona Gold, Midnight Lute, Swept Overboard, Fabulous Strike
Older Female Sprinter: Groupie Doll, Xtra Heat, Honest Lady, Informed Decision,

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Indian Charlie's list would be made up of mostly all cripples. Which is fine, if you don't consider durability an important trait.

Kind of like the horses above in bold?

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

no chesterhouse..list incomplete..

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

That is just being ridiculous.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Artax was far from being just a sprinter.

He was probably a better router actually.

That is just being ridiculous.

His precociousness kept him competitive at routes when he was young. He would have had little shot later on at top levels in routes.

Why did Candy Ride have 3 different jockeys in the 3 US starts?
Its not like the horse lost or the other jocks had better mounts

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

That is just being ridiculous.

His precociousness kept him competitive at routes when he was young. He would have had little shot later on at top levels in routes.

Based on what?

I know my original statement is going to be difficult for most people to believe, but I watched that horse very closely as a two year old and early three year old, and that horse could flat out run, at any distance.

That was a special race horse, and if he'd been handled by non imbecilic connections, would have been hailed as one of the great horses from that decade.

That is the point I'm trying to make. The idea that he was strictly a sprinter, now that's the idea that is completely ridiculous.

If you have access to videos of his racing dating from his monster 2yo msw win through his SA Derby appearance, take the time to watch those races. I really doubt you'll come away from that thinking it was his precociousness that 'kept' him competitive.

Also, try to remember just how horrible Randy Bradshaw was, as well as imagining yourself running a marathon while anemic, which greatly diminishes your ability to get oxygen to your muscle cells.

That was an all around awesome race horse.