Trivial note: at 2008 BC, Mike Smith referred to 2yo F champion Stardom Bound as his "Little Zenyatta." Turns out Stardom Bound was sired by Tapit.
The most obvious was also the most exciting of my lifetime: Affirmed / Alydar.
There is nothing "hands down" about any of this. There is no particular absolute standout. HDG did well, although nothing like Zenyatta or Rachel in the previous seasons, but her competition for HOY doesn't run as deep. Acclamation finished the year in the west with an impressive run, beating the likes of Bourbon Bay, Champ Pegasus, Caracortado, Jeranimo, and Twirling Candy. Cape Blanco took his share G1's while beating the likes of Dean's Kitten and a tired Gio Ponti. My Miss Aurelia? Why not, even though Hansen, Union Rags, and Creative Cause ran the same distance in a much faster time in their BC race the day after. Just to reiterate, there's nothing hands-down about any of it.
Saying that Acclamation "defeated the likes of Falcon Rock and Haimish Fly" [sic] is akin to saying that HDG defeated the likes of Tiz Miz Sue and Sweet N Sour Nina; although accurate, it is purposefully misleading, which does seem to fall in line with the tenor of your post.
Saying that Acclamation "defeated the likes of Falcon Rock and Haimish Fly" [sic] is akin to saying that HDG "defeated the likes of Tiz Miz Sue and Sweet
@travel_vic: When was that?
" Breeders' Cup Classic is shaping up to be another legendary Battle of the Sexes." Really? Chantal vs. whom: Ramon, Joseph, or Ryan?
" Uncle Mo was America’s best Triple Crown hope in a long time?" At least since Eskendereya.
... But it was only a 3 horse field & Count Fleet didn't have Sham to deal with. Nevertheless, a 25 length victory looks a lot like a 31 length victory.
Completing his sweep of the Triple Crown in 1943, Count Fleet won the Belmont by 25 lengths