Which horse in past BC's...?

pmayjr · #1 10-16-2006, 06:37 PM

... was your biggest, stone-cold lock, no chance he/she will lose, autmomatic winner on paper...but lost? Where it shocked you he/she lost? Am i making any sense with this?

For me, it was the Rock of Gibraltor ("THE ROCK") in the '02 BC Mile. The horse was undefeated that year and he was a Euro. 'Nuff said. I remember he ran that whole race at the back of the pack... like he was really sluggish, and then he came with a huge run, but it wasn't quite enough... That one still makes me scratch my head...

hoovesupsideyourhead · #2 10-16-2006, 06:46 PM

the rock was a lock..

#3 10-16-2006, 06:49 PM

I was all about Composure. I was cheering like a winner in that stretch, and then the damn Storm Flag Flying came back and took it. I really thought Composure was a Derby type filly. We never got to find out...

randallscott35 · #4 10-16-2006, 06:51 PM

When you are talking about a favorite I thought couldn't lose....Well I didn't bet her but Riboletta comes to mind. She was soooo good back then and just had a really off day. Spain didn't even run a very fast race. A lot of mares were over the top in that race.

pmayjr · #5 10-16-2006, 06:55 PM

Randall! Thank you! I don't know why I couldn't phrase it that concise... It's so eay I make it ten times harder than it has to be lol. That's exactly what I meant...

sham · #6 10-16-2006, 07:00 PM

Everyone thought Officer was a lock in his BC Juvee.

Charismatic1 · #7 10-16-2006, 07:48 PM

I don't believe in "locks" anymore. I was famous from about 2000-2002 on the old ESPN board for guarenteeing certain "lock" horses' defeats in big races (e.g.- FuPeg in Preakness&Classic, Riboletta in Distaff, etc). I still do it and I'll mention my "lock" defeats closer to this year's Holiday. After about '02, I realized that I can't possibly claim a horse to be a lock if I scoff at the public's locks.

However, I have still fallen victim to the bug. Ouija Board the last two Cups and probably this Cup as well, and Vindication are my strongest locks. Tiznow was perhaps my all-time lock in '01, but that was more emotional confidence that he would get it done. I, too, was all over Rock of Gibralter. 2002 really irritated me because favorites won 3 of the first 4 races and the Rock wasn't one of them. I'm still miffed at that.

Since Cup day became a holiday in my house back in 2000, I've been supremely confident in several horses other than the four mentioned. She's a Devil Due, Tempera, Starine, Island Fashion, and Artie Schiller ('04 loss) jump to mnd.

Slewbopper · #8 10-16-2006, 08:19 PM

[quote=pmayjr]... was your biggest, stone-cold lock, no chance he/she will lose, autmomatic winner on paper...but lost? Where it shocked you he/she lost? Am i making any sense with this?

QUOTE]

Slew O Gold

Regarding winning picks at a price...Anees was my best...Longshots I got nipped on...Miafara, twice. I bet Landseer in Rocks race at Arl.

fmc123412 · #9 10-16-2006, 08:21 PM

Leroidesanimaux!

#10 10-16-2006, 08:31 PM

Oh I know there are a bunch of folks who had Rock of Gib. as a stone cold lock. I remember it very well on BC day when he went down. And Pops had the winner and did not bet him.

kentuckyrosesinmay · #11 10-16-2006, 08:33 PM

God, that was a horrible race for more reasons than one!

Five Star Derek · #12 10-16-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmayjr

... was your biggest, stone-cold lock, no chance he/she will lose, autmomatic winner on paper...but lost? Where it shocked you he/she lost? Am i making any sense with this?

For me, it was the Rock of Gibraltor ("THE ROCK") in the '02 BC Mile. The horse was undefeated that year and he was a Euro. 'Nuff said. I remember he ran that whole race at the back of the pack... like he was really sluggish, and then he came with a huge run, but it wasn't quite enough... That one still makes me scratch my head...

His BC ride that year had to be one of the worst rides I've ever seen. Didn't a horse break down in that race forcing him to swerve too? He was my lock that year also. I should have quit playing after he lost. Couldn't cash anything that year.

#13 10-16-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Five Star Derek

His BC ride that year had to be one of the worst rides I've ever seen. Didn't a horse break down in that race forcing him to swerve too? He was my lock that year also. I should have quit playing after he lost. Couldn't cash anything that year.

He did have a bad ride, but it was clear as he came like a freight train the winner was going just as hard. The Rock would not have won that race, as some suggested, if it was 1 f further. He was beat in the first half of that race. Domedriver had him by the end.

philcski · #14 10-16-2006, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmayjr

... was your biggest, stone-cold lock, no chance he/she will lose, autmomatic winner on paper...but lost? Where it shocked you he/she lost? Am i making any sense with this?

For me, it was the Rock of Gibraltor ("THE ROCK") in the '02 BC Mile. The horse was undefeated that year and he was a Euro. 'Nuff said. I remember he ran that whole race at the back of the pack... like he was really sluggish, and then he came with a huge run, but it wasn't quite enough... That one still makes me scratch my head...

Artie in '04, not because he just lost but he ran so poorly.

randallscott35 · #15 10-16-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmc123412

Leroidesanimaux!

Horrendous job by Belmont last year not announcing that aluminum pads were on this horse until very late. Most of the wagering public didn't realize that. I played Host so I didn't care, but you simply have to get out info like that in a timely manner.

Seattleallstar · #16 10-16-2006, 09:25 PM

Riboletta, and Rock of Gibraltar

pmayjr · #17 10-17-2006, 01:17 AM

Philcski,
Believe it or not, I had Singletary in the '04 BC Mile. Over Artie, and over Antonius Pius. It was the only thing I won all day lol. Artie was a Lukewarm favroite in a wide-open race I thought. I didn't think he was a lock at all that day. I remember Stven Christ say about Singletary after the BC, that "for his odds there were a lot better longshots worth betting". I was like... sure guy... way to pad your excuse for leaving him off your ticket.

I thought Leriodesanemaux the next year was the bigger lock, and Artie finally got it done lol. Timimg seems to go a long way in this sport lol.

#18 10-17-2006, 07:27 PM

With Anticipation

repent · #19 10-17-2006, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sham

Everyone thought Officer was a lock in his BC Juvee.

not really.

he was winning his races without having to work,and you knew that would not be the case on BC Day.
lots of you know Jo'Berg is one of my all time favs.
I had NO idea how to handicap back then, but I was right in that race.
just pure luck I guess.

Repent

repent · #20 10-17-2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellamyRd.

With Anticipation

lol,
that was funny.
I hated that horse.

to answer the question at hand,
The Rock.
no question about it.
I dont go as far back as some of you, so my perspective and races to choose from are somewhat limited.

but since, say 2000, it has to be Rock of Gibraltar.
the other, and a close 2nd, is Kittens Joy.
best US bred, owned, and trained turf horse I have ever seen.
obviously he had a valid excuse for not running up to his ability, but at the time, I had never been more disappointed.

Repent