Rank the best 3 year olds of this decade

[letswastemoney]

errr unless this list is just on accomplishments only and not on ability...in which case then yeah Big Brown should be up there...

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by hi_im_god

1) saarland
2) dollar bill
3) big brown
4) perfect drift
5) read the footnotes

Love it.

[free25]

why not put Rags to Riches on the List. was an awesome 3yo for sure

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by free25

why not put Rags to Riches on the List. was an awesome 3yo for sure

You beat me to this. She towered over the fillies and won the Belmont over Curlin in her shot vs the boys. She has to be on the list.

RTR- Belmont

I think Smarty's Preakness was better than his Derby. The Derby was such a slopfest while I can still hear Durkin with the Preakness call "he's gonna win by a colossal margin!!".

[King Glorious]

Without giving it deep thought and without ranking them, here are the ones I'd have on the list for sure:

Smarty Jones
Bernardini
Tiznow
Point Given
Fusaichi Pegasus
Ghostzapper
Lost in the Fog
Lion Heart

[JJP]

My top five 3YOs of this decade so far:

1. Curlin
2. Point Given
3. Tiznow
4. Barbaro
5. Afleet Alex

most overrated: FuPeg--absolute dream pace setup in KY Derby
best losing performance: Congaree in the 2001 Derby
worst winner of a Triple Crown race: tie between Commendable, Da Tara and the McPeek runner (can't even remember the name) who won the Belmont at something like 60-1.

[CSC]

This decade 2000-2008 critaria :

Medaglia D'oro should be on any list.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by JJP

My top five 3YOs of this decade so far:

1. Curlin
2. Point Given
3. Tiznow
4. Barbaro
5. Afleet Alex

most overrated: FuPeg--absolute dream pace setup in KY Derby
best losing performance: Congaree in the 2001 Derby
worst winner of a Triple Crown race: tie between Commendable, Da Tara and the McPeek runner (can't even remember the name) who won the Belmont at something like 60-1.

Sarava!

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by CSC

This decade 2000-2008 critaria :

Medaglia D'oro should be on any list.

for ten most overrated? 17 starts, 8 wins. no horse has gotten more credit for all his second place finishes than this guy.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

g zapper..pre hurt..

http://www.chef-de-race.com/classic_...he/montjeu.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE30hM1wCNY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOktX...eature=related

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

errr unless this list is just on accomplishments only and not on ability...in which case then yeah Big Brown should be up there...

barf............


realhorses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbi9V...eature=related

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

barf............


realhorses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbi9V...eature=related

Great race and great call by Durkin. Blushing John was no slouch either.

The glass-half-empty side of me can't help thinking 'what if Alysheba had run as a 5-yr-old and made it to that race?!'.

--Dunbar

[TheSpyder]

The call does prove one thing...Durkin has lost his passion for race calling. I was noticing this year at Saratoga that he seems to be just mailing in his calls. I think he will hang it up soon.

Spyder

Originally Posted by Dunbar

Great race and great call by Durkin. Blushing John was no slouch either.

The glass-half-empty side of me can't help thinking 'what if Alysheba had run as a 5-yr-old and made it to that race?!'.

--Dunbar

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Gander

From 2000 on:

I would add that this is based on only their 3 year old season and not how they became when they turned 4, but only 2 of these did anything past the age of 3 and I have them at 9 and 10 on my list anyways so thats a given.
Beside them I added their single most impressive race:

1) Point Given- Belmont Stakes
2) Smarty Jones- KY Derby
3) Big Brown- KY Derby
4) Curlin- BC Classic
5) Bernardini- Preakness
6) Barbaro- KY Derby
7) Afleet Alex- Preakness
8) Monarchos- KY Derby
9) Empire Maker- Belmont
10) Funny Cide- Preakness

The thing that stands out the most is what a mediocre group this is compared to almost any other decade. Compare this group to the top ten from the 70s or 80s and this group looks pretty sad.
Personally I think Barbaro was the most talented horse on this list. If we are measuring them on some kind of greatness scale based on overall 3yo accomplishments however....I guess I would vote for Point Given.

[Suffolk Shippers]

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

Funny Cide deserves to be over Empire Maker simply because he continued racing and that Makes him better than most of them.

Funny Cide was better than Empire Maker as a 3 yr old period. He won the Preakness and Derby, EM won the Belmont. After the Belmont of their 3 yr old seasons, neither of them did much. Funny Cide was sick and tanked in the Haskell, and EM lost the Jim Dandy.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers

Funny Cide was better than Empire Maker as a 3 yr old period. He won the Preakness and Derby, EM won the Belmont. After the Belmont of their 3 yr old seasons, neither of them did much. Funny Cide was sick and tanked in the Haskell, and EM lost the Jim Dandy.

Empire Maker didn't run the Preakness, had the bruised foot in the Derby, toyed with Funny Cide in the Wood, and blasted the Florida Derby field. Three G1 wins compared to two, and EM won two of three heads up.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Danzig

for ten most overrated? 17 starts, 8 wins. no horse has gotten more credit for all his second place finishes than this guy.

For argument's sake I am curious who would you rank as your top 10 3yr olds this decade?

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by CSC

For argument's sake I am curious who would you rank as your top 10 3yr olds this decade?

not sure, have never made a list of horses. but rest assured, mdo would not be on it. no horse that finishes behind volponi AND sarava would be worthy.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by Danzig

not sure, have never made a list of horses. but rest assured, mdo would not be on it. no horse that finishes behind volponi AND sarava would be worthy.

Okay, lol I see where this is leading. Then again, we could also say Milwaukee Brew, Evening Attire, Macho Uno, Dollar Bill, Hawk Wing, War Emblem, Harlan's Holiday, Came Home, E Dubai, Perfect Drift all finished behind Volponi.

Originally Posted by JJP

My top five 3YOs of this decade so far:

1. Curlin
2. Point Given
3. Tiznow
4. Barbaro
5. Afleet Alex

most overrated: FuPeg--absolute dream pace setup in KY Derby
best losing (heroic) performance: Smarty Jones - Belmont
worst winner of a Triple Crown race: tie between Commendable, Da Tara and the McPeek runner (can't even remember the name) who won the Belmont at something like 60-1.

Solid list also. Thanks for putting this up to Gander and the rest so I could go back and watch some of the races. One change that I must insist on despite my partial nature towards Congaree.