Top 10 BC perfomances (last 10 years)

[miraja2]

Because I am obsessed with lists and rankings, here is my list (in order):

1)Inside Information - '95 Distaff
2)Tiznow - '01 Classic
3)Pleasant Home - '05 Distaff
4)Ghostzapper - '04 Classic
5)Skip Away - '97 Classic
6)Banks Hill - '01 Filly & Mare Turf
7)Favorite Trick - '97 Juvenile
8)Da Hoss - '98 Mile
9)Cigar - '95 Classic
10)Countess Diana - '97 Juvenile Fillies

Most of these horses won by such huge distances that their inclusion on this list is self-evident. The ones that didn't (Tiznow and Da Hoss) I included because of what they accomplished with their victories - back to back classics for Tiznow, and "the best comeback since Lazarus" for Da Hoss.

What do you guys think? Did I forget someone or screw up the order, in your opinion?

The Zapper was crazy good.

[zippyneedsawin]

Good list.
I was thinking about Rock of Gibralter's performance, he came up short, but it was still pretty impressive.

[1st_Saturday_in_May]

Zapper's #1 in my book. 1:59.02, and he'd have gone much quicker had anyone challenged. Beat Roses in May, Pleastanly Perfect, Birdstone, Perfect Drift, etc. sooooo easily

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by 1st_Saturday_in_May

Zapper's #1 in my book. 1:59.02, and he'd have gone much quicker had anyone challenged. Beat Roses in May, Pleastanly Perfect, Birdstone, Perfect Drift, etc. sooooo easily

It seems like Ghostzapper is drawing a lot of attention on this thread. I had him at #4 and given the ease with which he beat a top-notch field, I think it could be rasonably argued that the performance should be as high as #2. But #1? In my opinion it just does not make sense to rate his performance ahead of Inside Information's in the Distaff. For me she is the clear cut winner here.

For those who are criticizing Ghostzapper, I wasn't saying he was one of the greatest horses of all time, just that his performance in the BC was one of the best in the last 10 years. For example, some could argue that Volponi's easy win in the classic should be on the list, but nobody would say Volponi was a an all-time great horse.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by miraja2

It seems like Ghostzapper is drawing a lot of attention on this thread. I had him at #4 and given the ease with which he beat a top-notch field, I think it could be rasonably argued that the performance should be as high as #2. But #1? In my opinion it just does not make sense to rate his performance ahead of Inside Information's in the Distaff. For me she is the clear cut winner here.

For those who are criticizing Ghostzapper, I wasn't saying he was one of the greatest horses of all time, just that his performance in the BC was one of the best in the last 10 years. For example, some could argue that Volponi's easy win in the classic should be on the list, but nobody would say Volponi was a an all-time great horse.

Exactly, this is about performances in BC races... and GZ's stacks right up there. Most also believe his career, while short-lived, was also very good... even though that is irrelevant in this thread.

Well I would include Azeri on that list. Personal Ensign would be on that list. The amount of ground she closed was absurd. I would also put Skip Away in there. His win at Hollywood Park in 97 was beautiful.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

Well I would include Azeri on that list. Personal Ensign would be on that list. The amount of ground she closed was absurd. I would also put Skip Away in there. His win at Hollywood Park in 97 was beautiful.

If it was ALL TIME BC performances I might put Personal Ensign on the list but I limited my list to the last 10 years. As for Skip Away.....his '97 Classic IS on the list.

Originally Posted by miraja2

If it was ALL TIME BC performances I might put Personal Ensign on the list but I limited my list to the last 10 years. As for Skip Away.....his '97 Classic IS on the list.

Yeah I missed the 10 year thing and Skip Away. Sorry about that.

Originally Posted by miraja2

Here is my list (in order):

1)Inside Information - '95 Distaff
2)Tiznow - '01 Classic
3)Pleasant Home - '05 Distaff
4)Ghostzapper - '04 Classic
5)Skip Away - '97 Classic
6)Banks Hill - '01 Filly & Mare Turf
7)Favorite Trick - '97 Juvenile
8)Da Hoss - '98 Mile
9)Cigar - '95 Classic
10)Countess Diana - '97 Juvenile Fillies

Most of these horses won by such huge distances that their inclusion on this list is self-evident. The ones that didn't (Tiznow and Da Hoss) I included because of what they accomplished with their victories - back to back classics for Tiznow, and "the best comeback since Lazarus" for Da Hoss.

What do you guys think? Did I forget someone or screw up the order, in your opinion?

No the "zapper" was not all that and a bag of chips.
he was a good horse that raced what, maybe 7 times.
hardly a career i would call outstanding, and his time in the BCC 2005 was no different than Pleasantly Perfects a year earlier, but for some reason, because it was mandella's horse or because it was a west coast horse winning the Bcc in Ca he gets overlokked.
PP's effort in the world cup, imo, is more impressive than a cranked up GZ's who ran once after that, and only once.

also missing from the list is the win by 31 lenghts,
nuff said about that one , i would think.

also how can you exclude Mineshaft and Perfect drift trading jumps in the eye to eye dual in the S foster 2003.
a remarkable effort from the current leader in lifetime earnings, in handing the horse of the year, minseshaft a defeat in his championship year !

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

No the "zapper" was not all that and a bag of chips.
he was a good horse that raced what, maybe 7 times.
hardly a career i would call outstanding, and his time in the BCC 2005 was no different than Pleasantly Perfects a year earlier, but for some reason, because it was mandella's horse or because it was a west coast horse winning the Bcc in Ca he gets overlokked.
PP's effort in the world cup, imo, is more impressive than a cranked up GZ's who ran once after that, and only once.

also missing from the list is the win by 31 lenghts,
nuff said about that one , i would think.

also how can you exclude Mineshaft and Perfect drift trading jumps in the eye to eye dual in the S foster 2003.
a remarkable effort from the current leader in lifetime earnings, in handing the horse of the year, minseshaft a defeat in his championship year !

ummm... read the thread title.

A fine list.

But if we dont have Azeri at Arlington. The list is amiss.

opps, i thought it was top 10 performances,

maybe he should change the thread title.

but my PP bit is still valid.

Ghostzapper, please.....

[Gauchos0522]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

No the "zapper" was not all that and a bag of chips.
he was a good horse that raced what, maybe 7 times.
hardly a career i would call outstanding, and his time in the BCC 2005 was no different than Pleasantly Perfects a year earlier, but for some reason, because it was mandella's horse or because it was a west coast horse winning the Bcc in Ca he gets overlokked.
PP's effort in the world cup, imo, is more impressive than a cranked up GZ's who ran once after that, and only once.

also missing from the list is the win by 31 lenghts,
nuff said about that one , i would think.

also how can you exclude Mineshaft and Perfect drift trading jumps in the eye to eye dual in the S foster 2003.
a remarkable effort from the current leader in lifetime earnings, in handing the horse of the year, minseshaft a defeat in his championship year !

It's top 10 Breeders' Cup preformances so mineshaft & PD Stephen Foster is not a breeders' cup race. And Ghostzapper was unbelievable and that 1 race after the classic was a 6 length win in the Met Mile in 1:33 off a 5 and a half month layoff. And he had an outstanding carrer from 6 1/2f to 10f he was so dominant it was almost unfair. His classic he just laughed at Roses In May when he moved close to him and destroyed that field.

[zippyneedsawin]

Ghostzapper's performance was great. Period.

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

Ghostzapper's performance was great. Period.

Ooppsss--it is also in the past 10 years. Sorry about that.

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

Ghostzapper's performance was great. Period.

well if defeating the world champion; who struck the gate at the start, and who retired post race because of that; and was strung 10 wide in the final turn, is indicative of a great winning performance then i agree.

but if given the above and winning by a few lenghts is an indication of just an average grade 1 win, i would agree with that too..

i still think everyone is just infatuated with his cool blinker set !

I think Ghostzapper is the most overrated horse in the past to years. Granted he was a great horse, but he really didnt do anything spectacular to warrant such high accolades.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by Secretariat

well if defeating the world champion; who struck the gate at the start, and who retired post race because of that; and was strung 10 wide in the final turn, is indicative of a great winning performance then i agree.

but if given the above and winning by a few lenghts is an indication of just an average grade 1 win, i would agree with that too..

i still think everyone is just infatuated with his cool blinker set !

OK, now the BREEDER'S CUP CLASSIC is an AVERAGE grade 1.... stop now.. you're embarassing yourself.

[Crown@club]

Val Royal's Mile Victory has always have me in awe. Apparently even with the guys here at work, I was the only one impressed by his victory.