I rate my own 3YO's and I'm pretty good at it. I have had Alex rated 1st or 2nd ever since the Champagne. This is my opinion. Not gonna say its scientific fact, but there is some empirical data to it. I can only go back to 1973 on following horses, because thats when I started following them. Since that time theres been a few that should have won the Triple. I rate them in the order I rank their ability vs. their respective crops:

Spectacular Bid
Easy Goer
Smarty Jones
Afleet Alex
Silver Charm
Risen Star
Real Quiet
Little Current

If you want to say Sunday Silence bested Easy Goer, its true. But Easy Goer was a much better horse by all measures except Mud, a horrible ride by Patient Pat and Fate. Sunday Silence never had a prayer at the Triple and was dog meat to get 10 marks on a fair track.

The Breeders Cup Classic needs to be 12 marks. The best horses in racing are not May 3YO's. The longer the race the less drugs will overcome a big heart and large lungs. Until American racing gets back to stamina and breeding races the problem can't be fully addressed.

P-Dub Wrote:
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> Geez CTC, enough with your Easy Goer stuff. He
> didn't win the TC because he ran into a better
> horse. Don't start with the excuses or we could
> probably add another 30 horses to your "should
> have won the TC" list. Let it go already.
>
> Agreed that its a stretch to say he's the best 3yo
> since Damascus to not win all 3, Spectacular Bid
> being the most obvious one. Although the last
> couple races didn't have the best of fields, the
> style with which Alex dominated warrants much
> respect. I'm looking forward to his next few races
> which should have better and deeper fields. Hard
> not to root for a horse like this.