Where does Cal Chrome rank

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

If you compared him to this point in his career vs. big brown, smarty jones, funny cide, war emblem to the same point in each of their respective careers?

He belongs with those type of horses.

None of them were especially accomplished 2yo's, but all of them except War Emblem had a huge performance at age 2.

He's about on par with that group.

Big Brown's Derby was a lot better. All four of them ran better races in the Preakness, imo. But, Chrome was the clear-cut star of the prep season this year...and that couldn't quite be said for the others...though Big Brown was huge in the FLA Derby and Smarty Jones was quite good in final 2 preps in Arkansas

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

He belongs with those type of horses.

None of them were especially accomplished 2yo's, but all of them except War Emblem had a huge performance at age 2.

He's about on par with that group.

Big Brown's Derby was a lot better. All four of them ran better races in the Preakness, imo. But, Chrome was the clear-cut star of the prep season this year...and that couldn't quite be said for the others...though Big Brown was huge in the FLA Derby and Smarty Jones was quite good in final 2 preps in Arkansas

Is it really fair to include Smarty Jones in this group for not being especially accomplished at 2? He fractured his skull in July 2003 in the starting gate and didn't start til November, but he made it count when he did from what I can see. It seems like it was a case where he did have precocity, just couldn't participate yet. We don't know that he wouldn't have done something notable that fall. Something tells me he'd have made himself known in graded company at least.

[Calzone Lord]

You judge horses by what they did do, not what they could have done.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

You judge horses by what they did do, not what they could have done.

I agree completely, but these "best of all-time discussions" ALWAYS evoke projections from people on horses who ran sparingly because of injuries or other issues.

I think Big Brown and Smarty Jones were better than California Chrome. So too were Afleet Alex and Point Given.

[King Glorious]

I'd have Smarty Jones first, followed by Big Brown, California Chrome, War Emblem, and Funny Cide. A question I'd ask is if at this point in their respective seasons, where they considered the unquestioned leader of their class? I'd say only Smarty and Big Brown were of the five.