In the spirit of March Madness, we are conducting a little experiment to determine how racing fans would evaluate the “best”, “greatest” or “most popular” (or any other criteria you think is applicable) horse of the last 5 or so years. Think of this as the “People’s Choice Awards” for racing. Use whatever criteria you think best determines which horses advance from round to round. Let us know how you arrived at your conclusions. How it works: Each day from March 16 through the end of the month, we will feature one matchup. We will post career specifics and some highlight races on our site to help you in your handicapping. Then you the fans will vote– favorite the tweet if choosing horse A, retweet if selecting horse B. Voting windows will close by 10:00 p.m. each night. The horse with the most votes will advance to the next round.
Here is the Bracket.
We complete our Sweet 16 Round with the top seed in the East Region, Wise Dan, taking on play in round winner Main Sequence. The latter has been very impressive in five U.S. starts and a win in the Sheema this week at Meydan, could elevate Main Sequence to rare air. However, Wise Dan has been at the summit for years and appears very formidable if not untouchable.
This is a unique Horse Madness matchup because it’s one that could actually happen on the track. Yet, who knows if Dan will return as himself and Main Sequence appears to be in top form. But that’s the beauty of this bracket–you can take both horses at their peaks and debate.
Wise Dan
Six Eclipse Awards, two horse of the year honors, two Breeders Cup victories. He’s won on multiple surfaces at varying distances. Wise Dan’s credentials can fill an entire Daily Racing Form. And at his game, a mile on the turf, he has proven nearly unbeatable.
The eight year old gelding has captured 11 Grade 1′s and numerous other graded stakes. He’s also done so in impressive fashion. While his 5 and 6 year old campaigns were marked by dominant wins, his injury riddled 7 year old campaign was impressive for the gutsy and determined victories he earned. Less than two weeks after a heart stopping stretch drive in the Woodford Reserve, where he fended off Seek Again, Wise Dan underwent emergency Colic surgery. He emerged over three months later to capture the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch followed by the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile. He’s back on the track and pointing towards a 2015 campaign. Could a date with today’s rival be in the plans?
Here is Dan’s 2014 Woodford Reserve win:
and here is his 2013 Breeder’s Cup Mle repeat.
Main Sequence
Main Sequence was last year’s mid-summer revelation. He has still never lost on American Turf. He burst his way onto the United States racing scene by winning last summer’s United Nations stakes at Monmouth, and proceeded to reel off five graded stakes wins at five different tracks, culminating in his most recent win in the G2 Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream. In the interim, he also took down the Sword Dancer, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (all G1s) on his way to being crowned 2014′s Champion Turf horse. Main Sequence is back for more in 2015 and, at this point, his streak shows no sign of stopping.
Main Sequence’s Equibase Profile is available here: Main Sequence Stats
And here’s his win in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf
So who is the winner? Anyone want to make a case for the “Now” horse, Main Sequence? If so, favorite the tweets to vote for Sequence. Or, do you think Dan wins this matchup for fun? If so, retweet our tweets to vote for Dan. Be sure to tell us why you voted the way you did.
Tomorrow we are back with the first Elite 8 matchup.
