Great but under-rated races: '98 KY Cup Classic

[MISTERGEE]

obscure and not sure if its been mentioned (kinda doubt it)
one of the best stakes ever saw in person, and stuck in my memory forever 1986 Widener Handicap at Hialeah
I remember a furious charge by Turkoman over Gate Dancer and Darn That Alarm. anybody else have memories of this one

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

obscure and not sure if its been mentioned (kinda doubt it)
one of the best stakes ever saw in person, and stuck in my memory forever 1986 Widener Handicap at Hialeah
I remember a furious charge by Turkoman over Gate Dancer and Darn That Alarm. anybody else have memories of this one

I do remember Turkoman winning, I think, a 7f race in Florida that was quite unbelievable. He galloped out in something like a track record time too.

That was amazing.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I do remember Turkoman winning, I think, a 7f race in Florida that was quite unbelievable. He galloped out in something like a track record time too.

That was amazing.

That was the Tallahasee Stakes. I think it might have been 6f. Beveled set insane fractions and Turkoman blew past him and the rest of the field in the stretch like they were standing still. Turkoman came within 2/5 or 3/5th of Dr. Fager's mile record in the gallop out.

[geeker2]

The 1998 Belmont..I swore Real Quiet won! We had seats right on the finish line in the club house thanks to John Hertler (class act).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLV7xZPwvM0

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by geeker2

The 1998 Belmont..I swore Real Quiet won! We had seats right on the finish line in the club house thanks to John Hertler (class act).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLV7xZPwvM0

The funny thing is, given the two TC races he lost by a nose (that I can recall), I bet even though the Belmont was a tough beat I wonder sometimes if Baffert didn't have more post traumatic stress over Cavonnier losing to Grindstone. He hadn't won a KD yet, hadn't had an almost TC win yet. Then 2nd by a nose in the Derby when you thought you had it...

[SCUDSBROTHER]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0q0qp_hKjg

This is my favorite horse showing his stuff. It's obvious that the announcer thinks he's pretty talented as well: "When he's Got his mind on running......." Trainer said she had to take him a month early to the Breeders Cup(he was a madman.)

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0q0qp_hKjg

This is my favorite horse showing his stuff. It's obvious that the announcer thinks he's pretty talented as well: "When he's Got his mind on running......." Trainer said she had to take him a month early to the Breeders Cup(he was a madman.)

Remember Nak taking him on the rail a few times right up other horses heels?

I rate Lit de Justice one of the top three male sprinters I've seen, when he wasn't all crazy that is.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Remember Nak taking him on the rail a few times right up other horses heels?

I rate Lit de Justice one of the top three male sprinters I've seen, when he wasn't all crazy that is.

http://magalifarms.com/stallions/litdejustice.pdf Most of the losses were caused by being 6-8 wide at the apex of the turn etc. Don't know what happened in his last race at Del Mar though. Didn't fire that day. Could of been gate stuff, cuz she then took him to Woodbine a month early(so he wouldn't act up so much.) I heard Janine talk about it one time at some discussion forum thing at HWD PARK (in like '99.) I don't think she was even gunna talk about him if I didn't ask her. She didn't like me telling her that her best horse ever was Lit dJ. I guess that was a little forward (but it was fun.) She gave me a look that was like if you refuse to pay for her cat's operation, or something. He wasn't her favorite(cuz he was trouble.) Seems like her pet was Meagan's Interco. She didn't want to be there at the discussion. I think we were depriving her of some important Scrabble-playing time. So, I know why Baffert messed with her that time at that post selection. He couldn't resist, and either could I.

[KirisClown]

2000 Beldame Handicap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iltoZrNRZmQ

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

http://magalifarms.com/stallions/litdejustice.pdf He was never worse than third in the races in this country, and you can see most of the losses were caused by being 6-8 wide etc. Don't know what happened in his last race at Del Mar though. Didn't fire that day. Could of been gate stuff, cuz she then took him to Woodbine a month early(so he wouldn't act up so much.) I heard Janine talk about it one time at some discussion forum thing at HWD PARK (in like '99.) I don't think she was even gunna talk about him if I didn't ask her. She didn't like me telling her that her best horse ever was Lit dJ. A look that was like if you refuse to pay for her cat's operation, or something. He wasn't her favorite(cuz he was trouble.) Seems like her pet was Meagan's Interco. She didn't want to be there at the discussion. I think we were depriving her of some important Scrabble-playing time.

That's not his full record. He was off the board 4 times on dirt. Most glaringly as one of the favorites in the '95 Vosburgh at Belmont. I think he finished last. That poor effort made him part of the mutual field in the BC a few weeks later. If you liked him to regain his form that day you were probably pissed his odds were compromised by being linked with a couple of other runners. While he did return to form he only managed 3rd. Fortunately, fellow mutual field member Desert Stormer won the race.

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

That's not his full record. He was off the board 4 times on dirt. Most glaringly as one of the favorites in the '95 Vosburgh at Belmont. I think he finished last. That poor effort made him part of the mutual field in the BC a few weeks later. If you liked him to regain his form that day you were probably pissed his odds were compromised by being linked with a couple of other runners. While he did return to form he only managed 3rd. Fortunately, fellow mutual field member Desert Stormer won the race.

He delayed the start of that Vosburgh.. at least 5 minutes or so..

I bet Our Emblem in there.. good memories...

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

That's not his full record. He was off the board 4 times on dirt. Most glaringly as one of the favorites in the '95 Vosburgh at Belmont. I think he finished last. That poor effort made him part of the mutual field in the BC a few weeks later. If you liked him to regain his form that day you were probably pissed his odds were compromised by being linked with a couple of other runners. While he did return to form he only managed 3rd. Fortunately, fellow mutual field member Desert Stormer won the race.

Yea, I forgot about that Vosburgh. I watched it the other night. No doubt he was pretty wild sometimes. He was 8 wide on a muddy track in that Breeders Cup in '95. Frank Lyons won that (nuff said....drunk caught a break.)

[Indian Charlie]

I'm pretty sure Nak got a suspension for a rail ride he gave LDJ. It was a long time ago, but I think he tried to bulldoze a horse out of his way and took a lot of crap for it.

Did she really think Megan's Interco was better than LDJ? Man, that is crazy talk. I LOVED Megan's Interco too, but cmon, that's like saying Johar is better than Better Talk Now, or somethin!

An interesting thing about Megan's Interco is that he had a virtually identical record on turf as he did on dirt. I think he won 8 of 16 on each surface and had 5 seconds on one with 6 seconds on the other.

What I always thought was a shame about LDJ was that he was never given a chance to run long on dirt. He won going 8.5 on turf, but I guess his connections felt that his vast improvement in form came from shortening up in distance, instead of the more likely switch in surface.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I'm pretty sure Nak got a suspension for a rail ride he gave LDJ. It was a long time ago, but I think he tried to bulldoze a horse out of his way and took a lot of crap for it.

Did she really think Megan's Interco was better than LDJ? Man, that is crazy talk. I LOVED Megan's Interco too, but cmon, that's like saying Johar is better than Better Talk Now, or somethin!

An interesting thing about Megan's Interco is that he had a virtually identical record on turf as he did on dirt. I think he won 8 of 16 on each surface and had 5 seconds on one with 6 seconds on the other.

What I always thought was a shame about LDJ was that he was never given a chance to run long on dirt. He won going 8.5 on turf, but I guess his connections felt that his vast improvement in form came from shortening up in distance, instead of the more likely switch in surface.

LOL....She wouldn't say who was her best horse. She's flakey as pie crust. Actually, I think 5f, or 5 1/2f was ideal. Wasn't the El Conejo less than 6f? I know he didn't get up until late in the Breeders Cup, but he broke a 23 year old track record that day. So, the others were running big, too.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

artax bc win

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL3qQH9HB7g

[Soaring Softly]

I nominate the 1999 Whitney Hcp........Victory Gallop and Behrens.

This is just an amazing performance by both horses. The final time, 1:48.66, wasn't all that special, but the race itself was really one for the ages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7UIKALfM8


Another one I thought was pretty amazing was Swept Overboard's win in the 2002 Met Mile....in 1:33.34. Couldn't find the race on Youtube.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Soaring Softly

I nominate the 1999 Whitney Hcp........Victory Gallop and Behrens.

This is just an amazing performance by both horses. The final time, 1:48.66, wasn't all that special, but the race itself was really one for the ages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf7UIKALfM8


Another one I thought was pretty amazing was Swept Overboard's win in the 2002 Met Mile....in 1:33.34. Couldn't find the race on Youtube.

Great call on the Whitney, I was only 14 and remember being there and betting the race. I bet Victory Gallop, maybe $5 bucks. I used to go with my Uncle and Grandma all the time.

[Soaring Softly]

I wish I could find a replay of the 2000 Goodwood. That was another great race between two horses that didn't want to lose. Tiznow edged Captain Steve in the end.

I was struck with something else in looking at the history of the Goodwood. Has there been any other major stakes race won by full siblings consecutively?

Budroyale wins the Goodwood in 1999 and his full brother Tiznow wins it in 2000. It may have been done before, but if it hasn't, what a great trivia question that would make!

[KirisClown]

Originally Posted by Soaring Softly

I wish I could find a replay of the 2000 Goodwood. That was another great race between two horses that didn't want to lose. Tiznow edged Captain Steve in the end.

I'll upload that one to YouTube tomorrow..

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by KirisClown

I'll upload that one to YouTube tomorrow..

You got the 85 Strub with Precisionist, Greinton and Gate Dancer?