Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

MsKnow — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 04:54:58 GMT

One That I thought was one of the greatest second place finishes was the 08 Derby that Eight Belles lost. Nobody was going to catch Big Brown that day but she made such a big move and was the only one making up ground on him.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

derbyfan — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:09:20 GMT

i think if the preakness was a little longer mine that bird would have caught rachel and won.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Slew — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:09:58 GMT

Karen...are you speaking of the BC?

Cloudy's Knight lost the slight edge to Man of Iron with Johnny Murtagh the jockey. Joe Talamo won the turf sprint with California Flag.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

vetteman — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 04:12:18 GMT

How could Taste Of Paradise's 2005 run not made the top 10? He gets stopped, shoved back almost 4 lengths in the stretch and still nearly wins (and would have if the finish line was about 15 feet further). He even got the same Beyer as the winner, 114.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Karen Jones Lamb — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 02:10:44 GMT

I was extremely moved by Rosemary Homeister's loss to Joe Talamo as she wanted her older horse to win so badly in that 2009 race and she lost by so little. Her love for the dear old horse and her disappointment for him in coming so close to winning was touching. Horseracing has touching moments like no other sport.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Lisa — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:57:07 GMT

omg four races I suffered the tough beats are on this list. so painfull lol.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Greg J. — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:00:49 GMT

LDP,

You got me! I believe that Luis Saez is the leading candidate for apprentice jockey of the year, Or one of them, Still amazed a mistake like that was made, Chalk it up as a learning experience?, lol...

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

cat thief — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:36:54 GMT

2005 BC Sprint: Taste of Paradise gets shut off by Silver Train, then moves to the outside, passing the tiring Lost in the Fog (who was previously undefeated) and just misses the Belmont-master Silver Train. Watch my money leave again at Breederscup.com.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

tvnewsbadge — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:27:49 GMT

And where's Mine That Bird's awesome performance in the Preakness where he darn near beat Rachel ?

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

okie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:11:12 GMT

Thank you for this wonderful list... Each of these replays still make my spine tingle and the hairs raise each time I watch them. Glad to relive memories.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

sherpa — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:05:58 GMT

Steve, I knew there had to be a glitch somewhere when you left out Presious Passion, but if he should have been listed #1 (and I can't disagree with that), does that push Cloudy's Knight out of your top 10? IMVHO, CK's marathon was a more impressive "best losing performance" - by a nostril in a 1 3/4-mile race - than Lookin at Lucky's juvenile or a couple of the others.

To the Cloudy's Knight fanclub, do read this article at ESPN for great background on how Sheppard came to be his trainer: sports.espn.go.com/.../story

(hope it's ok to link another writer's article here!)

Backside Sweetie - I'm trying real hard not to be green with envy of you! ;-)

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

GunBow — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:02:59 GMT

Steve, I love that you gave credit to these tough-luck losers, especially Congaree(01' Derby, he was up on a crazy pace, much closer than Point Given, and just missed 2nd by a nose), Medalgia d' Oro(won the battle with Congaree, who was brave himself, but lost the war), and Hard Spun(shook off all other speed before Street Sense put in a marvelous stretch run).

Some others to consider:

Triple Crown-

Ten Most Wanted- 03' Belmont.

Lion Heart- 04' Derby

Street Sense- 07' Preakness

Breeders Cup-

North East Bound- 00' BC Mile

Tout Charmant- 00' BC F+M Turf

Quiet Resolve + John's Call- 00' BC Turf

Spain- 01' BC Distaff

Milan- 01' BC Turf(faced a monster)

Sakhee + Albert The Great- 01' BC Classic

Falbrav- 03' BC Turf

Leroisdesanimaux- 05' BC Mile

Flower Alley- 05' BC Classic

Better Talk Now- 06' BC Turf

Hystericalady- 07' BC Distaff

Hard Spun- 07' BC Classic(ran Lawyer Ron, Any Given Saturday, and Diamond Stripes into the ground before giving way to Curlin's brilliant stretch kick)

Courageous Cat- 09' BC Mile(made Goldi work)

Gio Ponti- 09' BC Classic(the best American male ran a winning race, but had to face Big Z)

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Backside Sweetie — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:28:19 GMT

Afleet Treat,Slew, and everyone else who agreed about Cloudy's Knight.You made my day!When you work and care for these horses ,as I once said to his trainer,Jonathan Sheppard,it's like watching your children graduate.It's the best feeling ever!

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Virgil Fox — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:35:13 GMT

How lucky we were to have the 2007 class of 3YOs.

Hard Spun – talk about an appropriately named horse!

The Derby gods just had something else in mind that day.

And what a thrill to see the three of them turning for home in the BCC.

So glad he got his King’s Bishop.

All heart, all guts.

- Peace

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Maria — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 22:22:44 GMT

I'm glad Hard Spun made the list! I thought he'd win that day, and was so excited when he almost did. I couldn't believe it when Street Sense passed him.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

LDP — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:54:18 GMT

How do you mistake a 12 furlong event for a four or five furlong event??? That is unreal.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

CJ — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:37:36 GMT

Cloudy's Knight won a lot of fans on BC day, and it has been fabulous seeing him get two more wins to finish out this season.

Presious Passion is all heart, too. (Greg J., that explains a lot about Livingston Street!)

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

MonicaV — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:00:33 GMT

To me, Smarty Jones was the horse of the decade. He was the most exciting thing to come along in several years. That horse was just in a class by himself. I'll never forget how he gave me thrill after thrill and how gallant he was against a fresh Birdstone. I have a very special place in my heart for Smarty.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

The Beav — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:26:02 GMT

This just puts some of my fav's i.e. Smarty Jones, back in my mind. This last decade has been exciting and we have seen some great races! Thank you again.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Paula Higgins — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:16:42 GMT

Also, add to my list Curlin and Cloudy's Knight. So it should be Smarty Jones, Presious Passion, Mine That Bird, Curlin, and Cloudy's Knight. Amazing performances. You sure can't call them losers.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Greg J. — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:05:17 GMT

LDP,

The jockey on Livingston Street(Luis Saez) thought it was a short race and was racing to the finish line the first time around!!! Elvis looked over at him DURING the race and asked him, "What are you doing?, We come back around!!!" You can see this during the replay, Then he pulls Livingston Street back!, Unreal...

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

BRussell — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:54:19 GMT

What about Tiznow's other nose BC Classic victim, Sakhee, who looked more like the winner in deep stretch than Giant's Causeway?

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

da3hoss — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:39:19 GMT

Virgil Fox, thanks.

Sun King: The best horse that never won a Grade 1...

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Steve Haskin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:24:34 GMT

There was a major screw-up on here, and I just had them add an explanation at the top of the list. Presious Passion's 2009 BC Turf should have been #1, but was ommitted.

re: Best Losing Performances in a Breeders' Cup or Triple Crown Race

Alysse — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:45:30 GMT

So glad to see the Rock on the list. When I saw the title of this, he was the first who came to mind. Dunkirk's Belmont really was something else. Every time you thought he'd spit the bit, he just kept on going. He earned my respect that day.