holy bull FTW

A pretty close call for the top spot between Holy Bull and Bet Twice. Holy Bull for his brilliant speed, and Bet Twice for defeating two terrific horses in Alysheba and Lost Code. What a memorable battle that was, with Bet Twice stopping the clock in 1:47 flat.

Point Given was a nice horse, but he was all out to win the Haskell in one of his least impressive performances.

oh, in my little old opinion, Wajima deserves better than #5!  What a heart that horse had.  Coming down any stretch of any race, he gave you every inch of strength and speed!  He defeated Ancient Title, Forego and Foolish Pleasure in 1 race, and beat Forego a 2nd time later in the same fall.  Yes, Forego beat him, too, but, boy, what a horse!

Where is Deputed Testimony on this list?  He still holds a track record at Pimlico for over 25 years.  I would have to say Bet Twice!

Skipaway danced every dance and stayed sound for years with a chip in his ankle.  If you looks at his PP's you will see multiple Beyers in the 110's and higher. He raced against the best of his era without ducking anyone at tracks across the US.

Holy Bull was beautiful and brilliant defeating his elders in the Met Mile.

Serena's Song is another terrific horse who raced against the best of her generation, male and female.  Her stretch duel with Flanders in the BC Juvenile Fillies was heart thumping.  Flanders never raced again, Serena came back the following year to take on the boys in the KY Derby and the Haskell.

My top 3 were WAJIMA, HOLY BULL and SERENA'S SONG. WAJIMA was an awesome racehorse who just roared onto the scene, in a big way, and made a great impression.

I agree with s lee, Wajima was a heck of a horse that alot of todays fans forget or don't know what he was all about!

All we know for sure is that Big Brown is LAST. He would get smoked by any horse in this field, and is lucky he didn't come along a year later, or he would get smoked by the superfilly Rachel Alexandra.

Majestic Light!

Big Brown And the "superfilly" isn't really that super

The funny thing about Big Brown is that he ran a spectacular Haskell, but because people are too lazy or stupid (haven't figured out which) to follow racing, they put him last because he 'barely' beat Coal Play.  For those interested in the facts Coal Play is an absolute monster at Monmouth, and Big Brown went past him quite easily that day.  The win margin wasn't huge, but every other indicator of performance indicate it was a huge effort.  Coal Play just won the Salvator Mile by like 9 under wraps there...a shame he's not the same at other tracks.  But wait, I forgot, people just love to hate Big Brown - aka the Yankees of horse racing.  

Holy Bull without a doubt!  Would've loved to have seen what he could've done on the turf.  Skip Away never backed down.  Bring on all comers!  Skip was always ready.  Thank God he wasn't in the hands of one of today's top trainers or they would have picked his spots.  

I am very disappointed to see Big Brown last - he is better than that.

Skip Away

Wajima

Holy Bull

49-er

Majestic Light

Bet Twice

Serena's Song

Point Given

Big Brown

War Emblem (who doesn't even belong on this list).

War Emblem's derby campaign was no where as impressive as Big Brown's and was useless if faced with anything resembling a pace.

   I saw Big Brown take it last year, some redemption I thought for him after the Belmont. Looking very forward to going again this year, especially since Rachael Alexandra is entered. Mediocre she is not, "Super" fits well. Love that she is racing against the colts again, in this class. I think she adds so much excitement to racing now. Go Rachael!!!

HOLY BULL without a doubt ON TOP.  Skip Away and Forty Niner next.  I voted Big Brown 7th.  Maybe the voters have him last with the thinking that his performances were "chemically induced"?  Either way, in my opinion,  he does not belong with Point Given, Skip Away, Holy Bull et al.

I can NOT believe Big Brown is last! He at least deserves to be in the top 8! Sure, it wasn't his best race, but he didn't beat "nobodies" like everyone said he did. Cool Coal Man won the Fountain of Youth and has placed well against some good older horses this year, and Coal Play won the Salvator Mile this year very impressively. Everyone absolutely LOVED Big Brown before the Belmont! But every since then, they've hated him! It's ridiculous! Don't take out not having a Triple Crown winner for 30 years on him. He is good a horse. The day of the Belmont was just unfortunately not his day. He got his shoe stepped on and was uncomfortable. People said he ran last, but if you look at PPs it says he was eased and did not finish! So think about that! He still came back and won two races after the Belmont, including the Haskell, which he showed how much heart he truly had!

Lmaris, we're talking Haskell, not Derby ;-)

Long shot Skip Trial (Skip Away sire), beating the Derby winner Spend a Buck and Belmont winner Crème Fraiche..

Wise Times in the slop photo finish with a 17 year old jockey...beating Personal Flag, Broad Brush, Danzig Connection et al...

Wow,Big Brown last? I disagree. People seem to really dislike BB-still-even dispite his talent.

I have seen in person the last ten Haskells; I am not a big Big Brown fan, but having said that, I really feel that he doesn't deserve the scorn alot of folks are expressing here.  Other than the Belmont he wasn't beaten and in both the Haskell and the Monmouth Stakes he did what every good horse does and that is win. Point Given who is my favorite on this list and I ranked him third where everyone else did, didn't have it that day and he did the same as Big Brown, he got up and won. Big Brown ran an honest race against very honest horses and gave a very fine performance.  Give this animal a break.

Correction on Wise Times, he did not win by photo finish in the Haskell, he did in the Travers, sorry, "blonde moment".

Bet Twice, Lost Code and Alysheba race was one of my favorite races of all time.

I don't know why Big Brown is so disrespected that horse was very dominant and was undefeated up until the Belmont. Great horse in my eyes

Big Brown # 1 for sure with Point Given a close second.  Big Brown never lost a race he was allowed to finish and his winning percentage is the highest of all.  Big Brown !!!

BIG BROWN IS #1. And please people, stop blaming him because his connections are obnoxious. He's a stunning specimen of equine beauty and talent.

seriously draynay? what are you, 17? do you not remember any horses prior to 2000? Holy Bull, Skip Away, Bet Twice... these horses would have made a mockery of Big Brown. And while I was a huge Point Given fan myself, he in no way deserves to be ranked #2 behind Big Brown, with all the truly great horses following afterwards. I have nothing against "Brownie" but his winning percentage pales in comparison to what some of these monster horses did during their YEARS (not year!) racing.  

1.Big Brown

2.Big Brown

3.Big Brown

4.Big Brown

5.Big Brown

6.Big Brown

7.Big Brown

8.Big Brown

9.Big Brown

10.Big Brown

What's not to love about him?? :-)

Bet Twice race(Lost Code,Alysheba) made the Haskell, the most exciting(and I have been to them all) Holding Pattern's 25 minute photo over a flying Little Current but the best field will prove to be Any Given Saturday(Curlin and Hard Spun)  

Wajima beat the best field.

Deacon, where are you?  I want to know your opinion!!

I think that if you consider how great the horses in this group were you would have to rank BIG BROWN last, and that's no insult to him it's just that the group is that good!

Are we ranking these or ranting about what horse you like best?

POINT stated.

Big Brown is #1 on my list.  You bitter people just amaze me.  You have no respect for the horse, you just hate the connections.  #2 is Skip Away.  He was such an iron horse.  I ranked Holy Bull #3, with Point Given and Serena's Song rounding out my top 5.

My top four were the same but in a different order.  I put Big Brown 6th, he was a quality horse but a cut below the top 5 to me.  Can't wait for the upcoming race!  It should be really exciting!  

I gotta say Holy Bull first, then Skipaway, Point Given, Serena's Song and then Wajima. Holy Bull could have argueably been one of the all time greats if not for his breakdown in the Donn Handicap. Skipaway was a very nice horse who was as honest as the day is long. Point Given was also very talented who had an awesome turn of foot. Still can not understand how he did not win the Kentucky Derby. Wajima got brilliant as a 3 year old and gave Forego all he wanted. Serena's Song could easily be ranked as one of the all time top 10 fillies or mares. All of these horses are very nice. Big Brown is the one who probably gets a lot of attention here because he raced pretty recently. I do not believe Big Brown did enough to be considered a great horse, but that is just my opinion. Many of the bloggers here do not remember some of the older Haskell's. How many folks actually saw Holy Bull or Wajima run? Majestic Light and Bet Twice ran the fastest times in the Haskell at 1:47 flat. Bluegrass Cat won the race by 7 lengths and that is the largest margin of victory.

Thanks for the nice words Skyfire, I usually pay more attention to Steve Haskin's blog but I will keep a keen eye on these others as many folks have some great things to say.

Great comment "B", people are ranking Big Brown #1 because of their love for the horse not because he was the best horse who won the Haskell Invitational. Like I said, he raced very recently and that is who folks will remember. I just think my interpretation of greatness in a race horse is obviously different then other folks.

skips girl what don't you understand ?  Big Brown ran on broken feet and nearly won the Triple Crown had he not been stepped on unlocking his shoe.  You saw it, everyone saw it. One loss because of a freak accident.  He never lost besides that on grass or dirt what other horse on the list can say that ???

the '87 Haskell was one of the best races EVER!! And it was my birthday! And I was living in Jersey at the time. The local paper headline was "Three winners of the same race" and,yes, I still have it.

Street Sense won the Kentucky Derby and The Travers Stakes in 2007, does anyone know if any other horse has ever won both of those prestigious races but was not named horse of the year(Curlin 2007-2008).

We know Curlin won the Preakness and was second in the Belmont to Rags to Riches, and then won the Breeders Cup Classic. I always felt Street Sense deserved HOTY in 2007 taking nothing away from Curlin.

I ranked Big Brown #1.  What people fail to realize is that its not only ability that make a great horse its also the heart.  We all know that after that Belmont Big Brown was not the same horse from his injuries, but yet we went on to win his final 2 races and he did it all on heart.  The heart makes the champion.  

BIG BROWN and HOLLY BULL were fake, phony and frauds.  They would never be the caliber of POINT GIVEN or SKIP AWAY

A note for Dutch: Point Given was all out to win the Haskell because he had been sick and missed training time, and Bob Baffert didn't have him as fit for the race as he would have liked. He didn't race a sick or injured horse, he just wasn't as in shape due to missed training time. What a fabulous horse he is...missing training yet still pulling out the win, not to mention his breathtaking Belmont win and impressive Travers win

I guess nobody saw or remembers Forty Niner and Seeking The Gold battling it out. IMHO the most exciting Haskell of all and one of the most exciting races of all time.

BB wasent much at all

Damn, it's gotta be SKIPPY!

To keep things in perspective...Big Brown is being ranked "last" out of what are arguably the best Haskell winners from the last 25 years...so, while he is last, he is in good company.  With that said, the backlash is understandable; he peaked quickly, and came undone, all under the specter of a steroid regimen...and poor feet.  But the steroid issue, and the way that it was handled by his connections, have really hurt his place in history.  That's just the way it's going to be.  

I ranked Point Given first, only because of his monster ability, and the fact that he won on a day that he probably should not have won.  What a horse he was.  But he too, was unsound.  If you allowed me to own any of the horses in that group listed, I would have loved to own Forty Niner.  What a solid, consistent, classy horse, if ever there was one.  Handsome, too.  He never had it easy in his races, the competition was fierce, but he was a competitor.

Skip Away was one of the last great horses of the 90's. Good call! Curlin will probably be the last great horse of this decade, maybe of American horse racing...anyway, Summer Bird is going to cream Rachel. Someone has to keep Rachel in her place again for Birdstone, like MtB did in the Preakness.

Ugh, Big Brown. Sorry, boy, but I can't think of you without thinking of your trainer.

Racingfan,

    I'm with you, i too ranked BB 6th. He was very talented, but did not get the oppertunity to show how good he really was. I do not think he was as good as the top five, but the ppl who rank him last of ten IMO are bitter at the connections or something affiliated with or about the horse. He may not be the most accomplished or talented, but he is certainly not the least.

Holy Bull no. 1?  I don't think so, he ranks right around 4-5, and Big Brown should be in the top three with Serena's Song and either Forty Niner or Bet Twice.  War Emblem should be last!

Holy Bull, Wajima, Point Given.

Big Brown's win in 2008 was NOT spectacular. Majestic Light deserves to ranked a lot higher.

The way people choose the winners in these polls is not based on fact but rather on personal bias.

What we are dealing with here is the best Haskell winner NOT what horse had the best career overall.

The best would be the horse that won the race in the fastest time to which there are 2...Bet Twice & Majestic Light.But there can only be one winner so we have to go to who beat the best field...the answer would be BET TWICE who beat Lost Code and one of the greatest horses of all time the great Alysheba.

The top three are Bet Twice,Majestic Light and Serenas Song(a filly beating the boys).

These placings are based on fact not feelings.

I put Holy Bull at the top, Wajima, Skip Away then Big Brown.  I also can't believe the disrespect this horse gets.  It took incredible heart and determination for him to win the Haskell after the mental and emotional beating he took in the Belmont.  He beat a respectable group of horses, digging in and giving it all he had to overcome being jerked to a stop in the Belmont.  To me that took amazing heart and I will always admire and applaud him for that tremendous effort.

1. The problem with Deputed Testamony is that Slew o' Gold was much the best that day, but had some of the worst racing luck ever and finished 6th.

2. Big Brown should definitely be rated above War Emblem, but with a career high 109 Beyer he definitely needs to be ranked well below most of this bunch.  I had him 7th, but 8th is also defensible.  I don't see how he could be ranked any higher.

One problem from reading these comments is that some folks are ranking them based on their race in the Haskell, while others, like me, ranked them based on their overall careers.  I thought that is what was asked for, but if not, maybe the instructions need to be clearer.

A key point of claification is whether the criteria is Haskell winner that:

1) Had the best overall career.

2) Had the best 3 year old season.

3) Was best on Haskell day.

My answer is different based on which criteria is used. If it is the 1st, I would have to select Skip Away, a champion at 3, 4 and 5. If the criteria is #2, I would put Holy Bull 1st with Point Given 2nd. If the criteria is #3, then it gets fairly difficult, because so many of these horse ran so well on the day they won their Haskell. For example, Majestic Light, who I rate low on the other two criteria, won the 76' Haskell(then called Monmouth Invitational) by 6 lengths in 1:47 flat, with champion Honest Pleasure in 3rd(Honest Pleasure returned to win the Travers by 4 in 2:00 and 1).

Deacon:

In 1995 Thunder Gulch won the Kentucky Derby and Travers, as well as the Belmont and Florida Derby(and Swaps, Kentucky Cup Classic, Fountain of Youth and was 3rd by 3/4ths of a length in the Preakness) but lost the Horse of the Year to Cigar(10 for 10 with 8 grade 1 wins). Thunder Gulch was named champion 3 year old male.

If the question asked is who was the best "Haskell" winner the answer as above is BET TWICE.

If the question is which horse was the best out of these Haskell winners...then the answer is obviously SKIP AWAY

As I said, I have nothing against Big Brown, persay. But he raced one season and we are comparing him to horses that did so much more during their careers. And while he retired after "never losing" as you put it (I guess not finishing just means he gets to strike that from his race resume?), he barely RAN. His races were handpicked and set up perfectly for him!

Let's throw out the Belmont, because it really wasnt his fault that his shoe was half off his foot. So he won everything else he was entered in. He never ran against high caliber horses. His owners went for the easy wins. Not his fault, but we will never know if he was as good as everyone makes him out to be. 7 wins does not a great champion make, especially when Skip Away raced 38 times, and only MISSED THE BOARD 4 of those times, with bone chips in his ankles. That's a horse that didnt dodge anybody and left no questions unanswered on his way to winning $9.6M.

While Big Brown was a nice enough horse, lets compare true champions to other true champions. In a list of other "nice" Haskell winners, he would probably rank a bit higher. Just not against the likes of this company.

Deacon,

    Not being rude, but how do you give HOTY to SS over Curlin? Two out of the three times the met Curlin won. Curlin beat older horses, SS never did that. Curlin actually did it twice. Once in the JCGC, beating Lawyer Ron the top ranked older male, and did it again in the BCC, beating everyone, even his three year old rivals. Yes the Classic was in mud, but all horses had to run in it. Hard Spun liked it so did some of the others. SS didn't dislike it, or else he would not have kept up with curlin when they made their move. Curlin just had an extra gear. Overall Curlin had the better season and deserved HOTY.

Thanks Gun Bow for the info on Thunder Gulch. I think Cigar was a fan favorite and probably was considered to be America's horse. I think based on what you just told me Thunder Gulch deserved the award but it is too bad both could not have received it.

LDP: No offense taken but I said that I would get some flak over my pick. I thought Street Sense deserved it based on his Derby and Travers win, plus he won the Jim Dandy Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby, he lost by a head in the Preakness, finished 2nd in the Blue Grass Stakes, Kentucky Cup Classic and 4th in the BC Classic over a track that was hit by a monsoon. I love Curlin, and his campaign last year saved horse racing for me. I think Street Sense was a little bit of a throwback and he is the only horse ever to win the Breeders Cup Juvenille and Kentucky Derby.

With respect, this is just my opinion.........  

Deacon,

    I understand where your coming from, just, sorry, disagree. While SS did do all those things and was a fantastic horse he had to come in the same year that HS and Curlin came in. Each horse had a legit case for HOTY. HS and SS faced each other 4 times i think SS winning two and HS beating him twice, and quite honestly, this is my opinion if SS didn't get that Calving dream rail trip HS would've been the dominant winner of the Derby. In the Preakness even if he had a better trip, meaning not being rushed into a torid pace i still think SS would've beaten him that day too. HS before that had an impressive resume too, winning the Lanes End and Risen Star. After the TC he ran second in the Haskell, beating Curlin, beat First Defence in the King's Bishop, and then beat SS. I forget the name of the race i do remember it was on poly though. Curlin also was unbeaten before the Derby winning the Rebel and AK Derby, which should be a grade one, in his second and third starts. Then getting first, second, third in the TC races against the competition he was running against, and the lack of seasoning he had was nothing short of amazing. He of course ran third in the Haskell, obviously knocking off some rust, then comes back to knock of LR, the top older horse. You have mentioned all of SS accomplishments, so i will not reiterat. By now we pretty much have a four way tie for HOTY, with LR, SS, HS, and Curlin. The winner of the Classic would then take home HOTY, and Curlin beat every horse that showed up with total dominance. Again this shows how great HS was aswell, had Curlin not been in that crop HS would've won the Classic again dominantly, and with it he would've been the HOTY. I do not fault you for your opinion, everyone had their favorites that year, my sister LOVED HS, i liked both LR and Curlin, i liked Curlin slightly more, but wouldn't mind either winning. SS i think peaked too soon. After the TC i don't think he quite regained the form he had, though that Travers was amazing. I don't think the race on poly helped him, and think he should've stayed with two races before the Classic, like he did with the Derby. All three were fantastic horses, and all throwbacks to the thoroughbreds of 30 or so years ago. Hopefully they produce horses as talented and as durable as they were.

skips girl,

    BB raced twice as a 2yr old, and was pointed to the BC Juv Turf, until he had quarter crack problems.

LDP - Big Brown made one start at 2, winning a 1 1/16 mile turf race on September 3.

All three had great resumes. Hard Spun was as honest as the day is long. I got no faults with Curlin, I loved the horse, he was my man last year. With that said, Street Sense was that dpecial throwback for me. He had a real hard campaign and gave everything he had. Just like last years BC Classic where Curlin ran out of gas in mid stretch, Street Sense did the same thing in the 2007 BC Classic. I also don't think he liked the slop. Finally, I don't like Calvin Borel, never have. It is true he rode a perfect Derby with Street Sense and again this year with Mine That Bird but he makes so many riding blunders. He got pretty lucky both times, it was like "Moses" parting the Red Sea. Both trips were flawless and as I said very lucky.

Are we to say that in one year winning the Classic means more then winning the Derby, and in another it is reversed. Also Curlin lost the Belmont by a head to the brilliant Rags to Riches. Is that loss less prevelant then Street Sense losing by a head to Curlin in the Preakness? In my mind, Street Sense had the harder campaign, ran against tougher competition all year and as I said he is the only horse to win the Breeders Cup Juvenille and the Kentucky Derby. I do respect your opinion and we can agree to disagree........

ok so, i'll give. a season and a half, due to injury. still doesnt rank him with the other horses listed here.

Deacon:

Looking at the 1995 Horse of the Year, I believe Cigar definitely deserved it over Thunder Gulch. What I didnt mention in my earlier post on Thunder Gulch is that he threw in a dull 4th in the Blue Grass and was 5th, beaten 14 lengths, by Cigar in their lone matchup in the Jockey Club Gold Cup(although Thunder Gulch was shown to have a career ending injury shortly after the race). Thunder Gulch was the first horse since Whirlaway in 1941 to win the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and Travers, but Cigar was perfect in 1995, winning 8 grade 1 races racing across the US(Florida, Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, California, and New York) while never being challenged(won all 10 races by a length or more, and won 9 of them by at least 2 lengths). Thunder Gulch accomplished alot, and was a gritty runner, but he did not have the brilliance of Cigar, something reflected in Beyer speed figures; Thunder Gulch's top Beyers were 110, 108(twice), and 105(twice) while Cigar ran lower than a 111 only once(a 108) in his 10 1995 starts and had top figs of 121, 118, 117(twice), and 116.

I saw Cigar and Thunder Gulch in person at Hollywood Park during the summer of 1995. I saw Thunder Gulch in the Swaps Stakes, a race he won by 2 lengths over Da Hoss, with Petionville 3rd and Mr Purple further behind. Although impressed by Thunder Gulch's heart and professionalism, Cigar's 3.5 length victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup was in another league, proving before a very skeptical California crowd(which booed Cigar in the walking ring, supporting Cal-bred hero Best Pal instead) that he was a truly special horse.

Vespone,

    Thanks for correcting me. I was thinking about it a while after i posted and relized i messed up. My point was though he didn't run a lot during his two year old season he did run two seasons not just one. But thank you.

Deacon,

    I never said the Classic was more important than the derby or visa versa. I just think that by the time both horses reached the Classic it was a tied ball game. Curlin got the extra brownie points with the public for running, and running well in all three TC crown races, and beating older horses. SS got merits for winning the Derby, Travers, and the last years Juvinile. I would say both horses had equally hard campaigns. Curlin was run harder the first half of the season, especially since he was only in his first season of running. He ran the three preps and all TC races. SS ran only two preps and in only two Crown races. The tally at this point is Curlin six races SS four. Curlin then only ran twice before the BCC the Haskell and the JCGC, while SS raced three times. Tally is Curlin 8 and SS 7. With the Classic Curlin has 9 and SS has 8. You could say Curlin faced lesser competition, but for being thrown into the Crown last year with so little foundation, then doing as well as he did, by going from maiden to Classic winner is just amazing, horses aren't suppose to do that. By the Classic i do think SS was tired and though the slop didn't do him any favors i don't think he disliked it. I think had SS been raced more sparingly like he had in the begining of the season he would've peaked at the Classic and run better than he did. Both are great horses, and i on the flip side of you have no faults with SS, i just have always liked Curlin better. I am not trying to start an argument or trying to make you change your opinion. I like hearing your reasons for defending your pick, and i like debating them. Debating like this, to me is fun, but if you'd rather to stop then yes i can agree to disagree.

LDP:  No arguements from me, I too love debating. My point with regards to the BC Classic being more of a important win then the Derby was using both races as a reference point. HOTY honors go to the best horse (agreed). Head to head these rwo were preety even. Curlin won the Classic in spectacular fashion, as did Street Sense in the derby. In the Preakness, I thought Borel rode a very poor race. He has a habit of moving his horses too soon (he is still doing that), and misjudging speed. If Jerry Baily or Pat Day ride Street Sense all year then I think we see a much different outcome. You definitely had the better jockey in Robby Albarado. Like i said, I love Curlin and his Dubai World Cup victory last year was awesome. I love discussing these races and reminicing, I don't get upset over stuff like this. You bring a lot of education and spirit to these these blogs. I have enjoyed reading these and putting my two cents worth in.

Holy Bull

Deacon,

    Thanks for the compliment, though i think a few others would beg to differ. I too would agree that RA is the better jockey, but i think he messed up the Classic for Curlin last year. I think he just thought Curlin was so much the best and got kinda cocky. I myself thought that Curlin should've either been closer to the pace and made a move at the top of the stretch, that way he'd have the jump on RP or HTN, or he should've waited to make his move. Same deal in the Man o War, i think he should've been farther up. If you took RR and his positions throught the race and swapped the Curlin would've been coming home first. RA was acting like Curlin could race only as a closer after the Stephen Foster, and IMO it was the reason his races were so close, he had to make up so much ground and grind it out. On dirt he could be explosive, i think his win in the mud at Monmouth proved not only that but he could sustain such an explosive run. Curlin could run from anywhere and i have no idea why RA didn't let him in his last few races run near the front.

LDP: When I was real young my dad would take me out to Santa Anita and he knew a couple of the trainers. One was Robert Wheeler who trained many great horses and he told my dad once that a great horse will win you a close race, but a great jockey will still lose you a close race. Ask Shoemaker (if you could) about Gallant Man, ask Stewart Elliot about Smarty Jones, and my least favorite jockey Kent Desormeaux about Real Quiet in the Belmont, FuPeg in the Preakness and Big Brown in the Belmont. I am in agreement about Robby Albarado. Sometimes these jocks think their horses are indestructible. Curlin got only a fair ride in last years classic. RA got cocky as you say.

Deacon,

    KD is my least favorite also, he got way to cocky on BB. Jocks should learn from the others have made in the past about thinking their horse is indestructable. No horse is, and it takes just one mistake to mess up a perfect career. Man o War should've been unbeaten, and it took him being turned completely around at the break and getting boxed in on the rail to be beaten. He should've won, but his jock got boxed and lost all chance. In last years Classic Curlin was the best on dirt or turf, but that ride cost him. On dirt i think the move would've held, but whatever. In the 07 Classic SS shouldn't have been on the rail it was too deep, and that is probably why he flattened out. KD's ride on BB in the Belmont was just awful, and then he had the nerve to say he thought he did a good job. He should've had BB on the lead, but no, he runs him up on the heals of another horse, yanks him every way possible and then wonders why the horse is not wanting to run. BB even with missing the training was so much the best that if he'd been ridden right he would've won. KD rode one of the worst races in history, and honestly if he said what he said in that interview, and BB were my horse, he'd be off the second the words came out of his mouth. Good job, my a**.

I see were Wajima was only seventh

in the rankings but that is probably because he was a 3 year old 34 years ago.If all ten previous Haskell winners mentioned in the rankings were 3 year olds at the same time I think he would have taken care of them.

Skip Trial and Bet Twice are my 2 Favorites.  I was there for both.

Skip Trial closed fast, was full of dirt/mud and I will never forget it since my name is Skip and I did not bet him!  

The most exciting finish though, was Bet Twice over Alysheba.  I was standing at the finish line and of course I had a $40 straight exacta with Alysheba on top.

To all the Big Brown fans, who think the horse gets no respect, yes it's true that his connections generate much dislike among many racing fans. However the list is not for the Triple Crown but for the Haskell. Big Brown belongs way down the list. After the TC, he barely wins the Haskell and then beats up some claimers on the grass in a race that was set up for him. Then is heard no more! Sorry -- but Holy Bull; Point Given: Bet Twice; Skip Away all win hands down. The voters have put BB in the right place IMO.

meleah?

not a super filly?

What DOES she have to do to qualify? Running 109 and change, and then putting away the Belmont winner in the slop, 2/5ths off the track record, isn't enough?

RA is #1 Haskell winner! Almost broke BT's track record in the slop! Definitely a Great Filly. She has HOTY for sure. Absolutely what racing needs to draw the public back to racing.

What Cigar did not deserve to be HORSE OF THE YEAR? ARE you crazy?  He achieved way more than most horses ever achieve!  Rachel has zillions of miles to go to match his achievments!

CIGAR rules ok!

HOLY BULL ON TOP WAJIMA 2ND, BET TWICE 3RD.

Yeah I would have to rate her Haskell win in the top 3 easily, she did so against a top group of colts and ran them off their feet, Summer Bird had every chance to go wtih her but couldnt and Munnings set some soft fractions for his brilliant speed and faltered.  Giver her the due she deserves and go ahead and inscribe her name on the HOY trophy. As thats in the bag, now we want to see her against Zenyatta, and if you think Zenyatta will catch rachel in that last 1/4 mile lol, you dont know horse racing, Zenyatta only has 1 move just like MTB, and in a race with the speed Rachel is blessed to have the race will be over quickly, why do u think that the connections chose to stay out west, duh not that hard. BB last on the list is a very acceptable place for him, he was not impressive in this race getting up over a very low quality field, he was not impressive in the Monmouth made up race either, and the fact that his connections ducked Curlin in the Woodward and the JCGC basically meant one thing, that they didnt have the confidence needed in him to put him against an all time great, probably a good move also because he was a few cuts below the quality of a Curlin, or Hard Spun, Street Sense, Any Given Saturday and others, had BB ran in the 07 Derby with those horses he would have finished 5th or 6th, Facts Are Facts, you can look great running against garbage competition, as attested to by Zenyatta's Perfect record out west.

I need to change my selection, I had Holy bull very narrowly over several of the other excellent haskell winners.

Now...

Rachel Alexandra is my selection as the greatest Haskell/Monmouth Invitational winner ever.

The verdict is still out on Rachel, she is a very nice filly but this years 3 year old crop is less then spectacular. We are all so starved for a champion that we are ready to annoit Rachel. In my mind, still no match for Ruffian or Lady's Secret or Susan's Girl.

I was there to watch War Emblem win the Haskell....hmmm, only "one" horse won it that year! Why does a dual classic winner have to take criticism? NO RESPECT! I was there to watch Big Brown win the Haskell, again, only "one" horse won that year! He was a dual classic winner also; no rspect for him either. HUMAN error caused him to lose the triple crown.......thanks Kent! I was there to watch Rachel Alexandra win the Haskell, and that my dear frieds was the #1 equine to win the Haskell. Give the horses the credit for running in and winning the Haskell. Just because some horses are trained or owned by idiots, it doesn't lessen the fact that War Emblem won, or Big Brown won or any horse that wins a big race. When the gates open, whose legs do they run on? THE HORSE!

wise times look who he ran against danzig connection, personal flag, broad brush,& johns call but i am partial i rode him

Nice ride Chris!

Best horse of this group? Without a doubt, Holy Bull.......most exciting Haskell? Bet Twice in 1987.

aye dont believe any three year old would beat any of these boys except for maybe the great ruffian.sorry but i dont think rachel a. is ready for this group.

Lori,

I completely agree about big brown.  Desormeaux rode him like he was a machine, instead of riding him like the freak of a horse he was(bad feet and all)!  He wanted to run from the start and kent should have let him.  We would have had a triple crown winner.  But thats the way it goes, the difference between "brilliant" and "immortal"  Human error.  DAMN  and i believe that is the second time for KD.  For some reason i dont hold it against him.  He does cash a few tickets .  HA