Spectacular Bid VS Seattle Slew

[The Indomitable DrugS]

What always amazes me is when Seattle Slew is rated higher. On the Bloodhorse list - Slew was rated higher - but just by one position. Slew is kicking his ass on two recent fan polls as well. These horses are only 2 years apart.

It's pretty simple however, Spectacular Bid was unquestionably the better 2yo, unquestionably the better 3yo, and unquestionably the better 4yo.

Slew won 8 Grade 1's and 9 total Graded Stakes in 3 seasons.

Bid won 14 Grade 1's and 22 total Graded Stakes in 3 seasons.

Slew flopped in California as a 3yo when he was outsprinted early and put in a non-effort. Bid dominated in California - and all other regions. He was also much more versatile from a running style standpoint and could take back.

In terms of speed figures - Seattle Slew could barely even warm Spectacular Bid up.

One of Bid's slowest races at age 3 came when he won the Florida Derby by daylight despite breaking into the side of the starting gate - and having to be steadied 3 different times.



Despite the poor ride from his not so highly regarded teenage jockey - he still won with a 4.25 Ragozin. A faster number than Slew ran his entire 3yo season.

Slew was lucky to land into one of the all-time worst 3yo crops. If you remove Spectacular Bid from his crop - horses like General Assembly and Coastal are legitmate champion 3yo quality horses in an avg crop.

Bid was boo'd in NY - a cross country invader in California - and not from the Mid-west.

He made the absolute best of the only two big home games he ever got. His Laurel Futurity is arguably the greatest race ever run by a 2yo. His Preakness win was also an amazing performance - earning a gigantic figure despite a poor ride.

My horse couldn’t have beaten him if he had cut through the infield. I’ve had enough of running against Spectacular Bid for awhile. So has the General. Spectacular Bid Preakness was just plain outstanding from any point of view. Im a believer.”

Leroy Jolley- trainer of General Assembly after the Preakness

[ArlJim78]

the triple crown is all many people think about. Slew has it, the Bid doesn't.
but you're right, there is no comparison. The Bid was a freak.

[randallscott35]

No doubt Doug.

[MISTERGEE]

would you say that slew was the better sprinter?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

would you say that slew was the better sprinter?

Slew was the best everything.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by MISTERGEE

would you say that slew was the better sprinter?

Not at 7fs.

Bid won a Graded Stakes race by 15 lengths in 1:20 and change as a 2yo at 7fs.

He won the Hutchenson in his 3yo debut in super fashion. He also won the Malibu in 1:20 and change off the layoff for his 4yo debut .. Aaron Hesz talks about that as one of the most impressive races he's ever seen. To that point - I guess a lot of big Eastern horses struggled when they shipped out there - especially in sprints.

[randallscott35]

My bathroom currently has two pictures in it, framed. Bid walkover and the 1980 Tremont savage pic.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

My bathroom currently has two pictures in it, framed. Bid walkover and the 1980 Tremont savage pic.

Whatever floats your boat.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Whatever floats your boat.

Guest bathroom but thanks.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

My bathroom currently has two pictures in it, framed. Bid walkover and the 1980 Tremont savage pic.

No magazines with pages stuck together?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

No magazines with pages stuck together?

I am not single in Erie

[smuthg]

is this not an "Montana v. Marino" or "Rice v. Moss" argument... in my mind, no doubt that Moss and Marino were better talents, but Montana and Rice have the rings. Regardless of what the Bid did, he didn't win the Triple Crown, and he'll always have that held against him...

[The Indomitable DrugS]

If Alydar was born in Seattle Slew's crop - Seattle Slew wouldn't have won a single race in the triple crown series.

I assume Sir Barton is better than Kelso and Dr. Fager.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

If Alydar was born in Seattle Slew's crop - Seattle Slew wouldn't have won a single race in the triple crown series.

I assume Sir Barton is better than Kelso and Dr. Fager.

Yeah, but, Slew beat Affirmed and Affirmed beat the Bid, so Slew must be better than the Bid!

[Indian Charlie]

Hey Sal, I know you think Bernardini was better than AP Indy, but was AP Indy better than Slew?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Hey Sal, I know you think Bernardini was better than AP Indy, but was AP Indy better than Slew?

Seattle Slew at age 4 - would have killed A. P. Indy at age 3.

In terms of who the better 3yo was - it's a tough call but probably A. P. Indy

Slew wasn't running good numbers - was facing miserable competition - and he was pretty one dimensional.

Here is Slew's attempt in California at age 3 when they tried to rate him back and got him boxed in ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFmKe4t-V8s

[Danzig]

i'm a huge seattle slew fan, have a print of him at three chimneys...but no way i'd rank him ahead of the bid.

[justindew]

Is Andy asleep?

[dalakhani]

I think there is little debate that Spectacular Bid was a faster horse. The thing is, Slew had this whole mystique thing going for him in droves. He was a cool horse with a cool name and the pretty horsey people love slew and thats why he gets rated higher in these polls.

Did anybody ever read the book "stud"? I loved the way Slew was described in there. The author said he had a "miles davis kind of cool". I know that you are talking strictly about speed and racehorse ability but that aura thing is why people tend to overrate the brilliance that he showed on the track.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by dalakhani

I think there is little debate that Spectacular Bid was a faster horse. The thing is, Slew had this whole mystique thing going for him in droves. He was a cool horse with a cool name and the pretty horsey people love slew and thats why he gets rated higher in these polls.

Did anybody ever read the book "stud"? I loved the way Slew was described in there. The author said he had a "miles davis kind of cool". I know that you are talking strictly about speed and racehorse ability but that aura thing is why people tend to overrate the brilliance that he showed on the track.

It is a shame Zenyatta and Seattle Slew never had the chance to hook up. The resulting foal might have been the next Michael Jackson.