Mineshaft was a good horse. He was defeated in his eclipse year and he did dodge the big dance. I don't put Mineshaft in the "greats" category. I understand he ran a negative five or thereabouts with a wide. Wasn't it even in the losing effort? I forget.

Dr Fager was the world record miler. Additionally, he beat the very best at 10 marks when they didn't throw a suicide rabbit at him. I facetiously called Ghostzapper "The New Doc". GZ hasn't won a grade I at 6 marks. I'm not sure they had graded racing in Doc's day but he beat the best at six marks as well. GZ is no Doc Fager. He's no Dancing Spree for that matter. Spree won grade I's at 6 to 10 marks.

Ghostzapper ran one of his neg 6.5's in the slop against nothing. I believe it is a neg 6.5 but its inherently suspect.

Ghostzapper then ran his second neg. 6.5 against a horse that matched him stride for stride on what was obviously a cooked surface at Belmont. Two fastest ever speed horses at the same time on a wicked strip? Maybe.

GZ then had a negotiated pace and a wicked surface play to his advantage in the Classic.

I'm dying to saddle up against GZ and RIM in 10 mark contests next year. I don't know with whom. So many have fallen by the wayside recently but others will emerge. Funny is not done. If Tagg were juicing this guy would be all the raves.

Theres not many 10 mark races for older horses in the East any longer and I'm quite convinced its easier to run juiced in the East than it is in the West, so if GZ dodges the 10 mark races he's gonna be tough to beat. But I don't respect him. I think he's cheating and I have the cure.

CtC



Post Edited (11-07-04 10:19)