1. Maximum Security. By far the best 3yo by a wide margin . He has high cruising speed and can finish. A powerful combination. He’s a May foal will better as the year goes on. Note he won the Kentucky Derby as 2yo. Maximum Security was born May 14, 2016. Yes he was DQ, but he was the best horse on that day. He pull away from every horse at the end of race.
He was past by Code Of Honor in Kentucky Derby and fight back pull away from the field with ease.
Last race he stumbled out of the gate and ran hard refuse to give up. This race will make him much better this turning point of his career.
2.Omaha Beach. Another horse with high cruising speed and finish. This second best 3yo. A fighter that does not like to be pass. He should improve later in the year.
3. Tacitus. good horse that can be better runs hard every time next start Jim Dandy
Top 2 outside looking to moving in the Top three are Code Of Honor, Game Winner,
I agree with you concerning Maximum Security. Bred powerfully and runs just as well but I might just have to disagree with you there a bit on the other two. :) :) :)
I don't think Omaha Beach is all that great. Yes, he kicks it up on a sloppy track, just like Exaggerator did but there isn't much there going longer on a clean track. Maybe great at 8 to 9f but passed that he has to rely on the weather.
Tacitus is good but I just seem him as ... well... kinda boring. He's a consistent type but he falls a bit short for my taste.
I think the best 3 year old out there is Code of Honor (no surprise there). Under him, Game Winner, Mucho Gusto and Maximum Security.
Maximum Security vs Code of Honor
Maximum Security has beaten Code of honor twice on two different tracks, two different track conditions I understand your love for Code of Honor. I fell in love with Code of Honor at Saratoga last year. In Florida Derby Maximum Security beat Code of Honor with ease, at 6f mark Maximum Security was 3 lengths in front of Code of Honor, but finish stronger than a Code of Honor Finish third by 6.75 lengths on a clean track.
In Kentucky Derby on a sloppy track Code of Honor got a dream trip on the rail and took the lead. When Maximum Security looked him in the eye he melted like ice cream. Maximum Security beat him by 2.5 Lengths after setting a fast pace.
I will give that you love Code of Honor. If you to put him #1 Go ahead I understand your love for him but Game Winner and Mucho Gusto are not in the same league as Maximum Security. Maximum Security has already beaten Game Winner in Kentucky Derby. Mucho Gusto gets his shot Saturday in the Haskell.
I get it. Everybody has their favorites thats what makes this sport so great. They are all good in their own way.
I do believe that the hit that Code of Honor took by Maximum Security in the Derby after he tried to correct himself in the stretch may have stopped Code's momentum. Luckily Code and Johnny V didnt go over the rail. But the reason why I consider him in higher regard is that his breeding is really not conducive to the sloppy track, (whereas much better for Maximum) and he was in contention none the less. Both horses are bred very well for the classic distance, but Maximum has much more advantage than Code going shorter and/or on a sloppy track. But there is something to be said about Code winning going shorter, similar to a Shared Belief type, who was not bred with a ton of speed but somehow finds a way to win going shorter against the speed guys. That is why I think Code has better potential going forward. Both horses are great for their own reasons.
I guess I look more at the breeding and the potential of what that breeding will make them capable of as opposed to past performances when they are "young". I am very partial to stamina horses who win going short. Mucho Gusto has a serious spread of speed and stamina and even though he has been missing in action, there is a very strong potential with his breeding as he matures so we shall see how he goes this weekend.
And then there is Game Winner. Unfortunate for him, his breeding was not suited for the Derby itself, especially on the sloppy track and he still was up there in the end. Even more unfortunate was that he should have been in the Belmont. He was built for that race. Sometimes a horse's talent and status is hindered due to factors that he has no control over. A scratch out of the Derby because of the conditions and waiting for the Belmont would have put Game Winner on a whole different level but of course, that would have never happened!
LOVE mucho gusto and code of honor
Code of Honor is not running on Saturday in the Jim Dandy. Great move by Shug. Code of Honor runs best when fresh.
Mucho Gusto ran out his eyeballs in the Haskell if he runs in the Travers easy toss.
Maximum Security refuse to lose. The great one loves to win. 12.3 last 1/8 of a mile. After 22.4 first quarter... Wow. If I own him I would bypass the Travers and run fresh in Pennsylvania Derby. Then Breeders Cup Classic.
Max really does have that mind set, so he's a very tough one to leave out of any mix. So disappointing about War of Will, he just gave up turning for home, and its become a bit of a habit with him. Still wide open isn't it.
War of Will is done. When a speed horse loses his or her they are finish. Time to retire
The 3yo championship is down to Maximum Security, Omaha Beach, Shancelot.
I think the 3 year old championship will come down to the Breeders Cup Classic. Don't discount Code of Honor. He is getting stronger and stronger by the day!
@Lisa111 I agree Code Of Honor is Getting stronger. He’ a May Foal. I can’t wait to see him in person. I want to see much he has grown since the Dwyer. Maximum needs to improve to complete. Maximum Security is also a May Foal.
@Silver Charm Are you going to the Breeders Classic to see him in person?? I am so jealous! I should have gone to the Travers to see him in person. I regret it now.
Silver Charm, I kind of hope they don't give up on War of Will. Give him a freshener and maybe have him try a mile? I dunno, I just hate when talent is retired so quickly as opposed to regrouped. He's done a lot of running lately, which Casse will do, so send him to the farm and let him tear around the pasture for a bit. Can't wait to see what Omaha Beach is up to. There seems to be this buzz about Highest Honors after his Curlin Stakes win, so we'll see how he is next out.
Anna I understand your love for War of Will. Sadly his career is done. I will say it again whenever a speed horse loses their speed they are done. This one of my favorite angle to play against. These horses burn money so I can get value. I need them in the race. I’m talking about Grade -1 horses
3YO Championship is down to two: Maximum Security and Code Of Honor
Shancelot will win the Breeders Cup Sprint if he does race again until the Breeders Cup
I think there's another page to this thread & I can't find it. There's a note in my in box about Code Of Honor being a late foal, but can't find it in this thread. The Pen Derby is becoming so interesting. Do we know when Omaha Beach is running again?
Omaha Beach is running at Santa Anita. Then Breeders Cup sprint or Dirt mile. Then retire
Thanks Silver Charm
Code of Honor is the last one standing. Everyone else is dropping like flies..lol
There may be some hope for Improbable as well. If he wins the PA Derby and goes to the Classic he will have some advantage at the distance because its at Santa Anita. If he can manage a win against Thunder Snow or Code of Honor he would be a good position. The bias at Santa Anita better for him than the other 2 which means he may be afforded a few extra lengths at the distance. He was lucky it was sloppy in the Derby where he gained the extra lengths there. I doubt he wins the Classic but at least he has a fighting chance and a shot at it.
Improbable looked awful in paddock before PA derby. Then ran like he looked. Game Winner and Marley's Freedom turned out for rest of year. Guess Baffert just having a run of bad luck, eh? Think game winner will come back as 4 year old? I say no.
Bafferts horses are dropping like flies - guess he's laying off the spike juice these days! I feel bad for Improbable, he at least had some backing with his breeding for that race and like you said, he looked terrible. He looked like he was "neglected" over the past week or so.
Plus that acting up in the gate yet again, just a cranky unhappy colt all around. Have to say, its so nice to see smaller outfits winning some of these races instead of the usual big boys taking them all.
Santa Anita crackdown on Baffert juice. I can’t wait for the meet to start. Baffert is not going to win high% at Santa Anita anymore. Peter Miller will also struggle
Yeah Miller is another one, plus he's abusive to his workers. Not unlike Chad who thanks them profusely in public, but denies them each as much as $30,000 in wages. Love the horses, while the connections can turn your stomach.
I can't wait to see Code of Honor run this weekend. I truly hope he pulls this off. I expect him to break nice and easy and hang tight til he's ready to be let loose. I am so afraid of Preservationist. He ran a fantastic race at Belmont in the Suburban. If he's on fire, he may not let go of that lead at all. He really thrives at that track.