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Hall of Fame - Chinese Bandit
Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 3 years 1 week agoIn the history of the Sim, there are times where champions are everywhere and then there are times where the Sim needed a champion desperately. But probably the hardest time to stand out was the mid-year 10's of the Sim. Year 15 was the peak with some of the greatest Sim horses of all time running and trading blows during what was considered at the time the grand finale of the Sim. Atlas, Loki Dynasty, Havoli Makahikihou, Saga, Shatterproof, A Crown Awaits, the list goes on. A side effect was some horses being overlooked because of it.
A Hall Of Famer multiple Grade 1 winner and still the nineteenth highest-earning racehorse of all time over 40 sim years after he raced still wasn't the best of his generation. His name was Chinese Bandit who ironically got his spotlight stolen by Atlas and Loki Dynasty. At the age of two, he established himself as a major early contender for the Louisville Derby going three for four. Including a well-earned half-length win in the Grade 1 Remsen his first major stakes victory. But after another win in the Symbol Stakes to start the year it was onto the Derby with four wins from five starts. But the Triple Crown alluded him as he lost the Derby to Loki Dynasty and then was second in the Long Island Classic. This theme of finishing strongly in classic races was going to persist for the rest of his career.
With a second classic placing coming in the Garden State Invitational finishing 2 and 1/2 lengths behind the nearly unbeatable Cobalt. But he would get his one big break that year in the Awesome Derby where he held off Canute and Fightingwithfaith by 1 and 1/2 lengths to get a lone Grade 1 victory that year. He then bypassed the classic in favor of resting up for another race. The next year he prepped in the first week finishing second to Cobalt once more. But Cobalt wouldn't follow Chinese Bandit to his next start and his most important win. The Desert World Cup halfway across the world a win in this would finally give Chinese Bandit his well needed classic win.
Luckily without the major heavyweights in the race took his shot. By the far turn, it turned into a duel between him and Prize Fighter who began to open up from the pack. But Chinese Bandit was not to be denied that day. Chinese Bandit would finally earn his highest paycheck in Asia although it was in Dubai not China as he won by half a length over Prize Fighter. But when he returned home it felt like more of the same as he had a rematch from Long Island Classic winner Bebravedon'tcry and for a second time he lost this time by a more excruciating head rather than 1 and 1/2 lengths in the Classic.
But a start later he would be put up in the final race of the Sim before its closing. The year 15 Steward's Cup Classic, considered by many to be the greatest race of all the Sim's history before or since. In the field was Chinese Bandit himself a Desert World Cup winner and triple Grade 1 winner. But there was also Long Island Classic winner Bebravedon'tcry. Midsummer Classic and Arcadia Handicap winner Viper. Louisville Derby winner Saga, and the two main stars. The unbeaten duel surface legend Atlas and the other undefeated champ Loki Dynasty who had won the Louisville Derby over Chinese Bandit. Chinese Bandit had to take a back seat as the legends fought and finished fourth behind three separate Hall Of Famers.
But he would return after the great race and after the Sim's extended break. Coming back strong defeating another triple grade 1 winner in Enforcer by stalking behind him and then passing him in the backstretch. The rest was history as he took the San Antonio by 7 and 1/2 lengths. A start later he got back at Saga in a rematch in the Arcadia Handicap. Saga made a big move on the backstretch and took the lead but Chinese Bandit was still full of run and had enough time to run him down and win by 1 and 1/2 lengths in a fourth and final Grade 1 win for Chinese Bandit.
A start later Saga reversed the order in the Desert World Cup with Chinese Bandit coming second with a late spurt but was still well beaten by 3 and 1/2 lengths to Saga. But Saga pulled up lame after the race and Chinese Bandit now had the three horses who beat him in the Steward's Cup all retired.But it didn't change a thing as he fell short in his next three starts providing strong runs no wins. He wrapped it up with a second in the Steward's Cup Classic to the late-running Fog City who nailed the finish line by 3/4 of a length in a rail skimming victory. He would be retired as the fifth highest-earning racehorse of all time. Although he has fallen down the rankings in later years he still had a decent influence later on. With $21,372,215 in progeny earnings and 4 millionaires. Some of his runners tended to have the same luck as he did such as Assasin whose greatest showing was a second in the Lousiville Derby.
But his most impressive runners being Indian who won the Midsummer Classic, Inglewood Gold Cup, and Baltimore Special. But the best of his progeny came in the form of Life Worth Living. He managed to become a part of history when he won the fourth Canadian Triple Crown winner. While Chinese Bandit did have to suffer from many defeats throughout his career he still had some of the greatest and sweetest wins for Donnie Hidalgo. Such as his top tier earnings of $8,788,600 his win in the Desert World Cup or just his success in producing a Triple Crown winner. Chinese Bandit was a textbook example of a great racehorse who gave it a good go no matter the challenge.