Beauty before age
Three-year-olds show up in spades
Next year should be fun
The Haiku Handicapper: 2009 Clark Handicap Recap
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The Michigan-Bred Claimer 
Friesan Fire, Papa Clem, Chocolate Candy, I Want Revenge, Dunkirk, Pioneerof The Nile, Desert Party…..Did I miss anyone? Maybe the worst collection of 3 year olds in a very long time regardless of what they cost. If you’re looking forward to next year because of this year’s 3 year olds then I nominate you for the Eternal Optimist Award in the field of thoroughbred racing.
Do you know where charts for Hialeah can be seen on the internet?
Ragman,
Yes, the horses you listed largely failed to live up to their expectations, and with the exception of Rachel Alexandra and maybe Summer Bird, this crop will be remembered as one of the weaker ones in recent history, and rightfully so.
However, your list fails to take into account the late bloomers who came into their own after the Triple Crown season. Heck, the top two finishers in the Clark didn’t have their first stakes starts until well after the Kentucky Derby. Some horses just need time to mature.
There is no arguing that the older male division needs a spark (unless you enjoy watching Einstein, Macho Again and Bullsbay clobber each other and/or finish up the track to an ambitious three-year-old in every race), and when sophomores take three of the top four spots, that shows me they’re capable of stepping up for next year. Call it optimism – call it whatever you want – but I’d rather see the three-year-olds do what they did and show potential for future success in the big races than get their doors blown off and face the possibility of another dull handicap division like we had to go through this year.
They took a little while to get up, but the Hialeah charts can be found on Equibase.