Empire Maker among the most underrated Florida Derby winners

So distinguished is the roll of Florida Derby (G1) winners that picking only five that are underrated historically was an arduous process. Here's the list, and feel free to agree or disagree in the comments below:

Empire Maker (2003)

A son of 1990 Florida Derby winner Unbridled and the blue hen Tossaud, the Juddmonte Farms homebred turned in an incredible performance to take Gulfstream's signature event by 9 3/4 lengths, and followed up with a narrow win over Funny Cide in the Wood Memorial (G1). However, foot issues compromised his training for the Kentucky Derby (G1), for which he started the 5-2 favorite, and he was beaten in the rematch with Funny Cide by 1 3/4 lengths.

Given time to get back to peak fitness by the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, Empire Maker was kept out of the Preakness (G1) and then stopped Funny Cide's Triple Crown bid in the Belmont S. (G1) on a sloppy track. A narrow loss in the Jim Dandy (G2) that summer turned out to be his final start as recurring foot problems forced his retirement.

Despite winning two of their three meetings, Empire Maker lost the Eclipse Award vote for best three-year-old male to the dual classic-winning New York-bred gelding.

Captain Bodgit (1997)

A prominent member of the brilliant three-year-old crop of 1997, the Team Valor color bearer rebounded from earlier losses in the Holy Bull (G3) and Fountain of Youth (G2) to hand the swift Claiborne homebred Pulpit his first career defeat in the Florida Derby by 2 1/2 lengths. Another convincing win in the Wood Memorial (G2) propelled him into the role of Kentucky Derby favorite, but he fell short of Silver Charm by a head after a thrilling stretch duel.

Like Pulpit, Captain Bodgit was not destined for a long career. He made his final start two weeks later in the Preakness, sustaining an injury while finishing third by a neck to Silver Charm as the favorite. Who knows what else he might have accomplished?

Cryptoclearance (1987)

Fans who cut their racing teeth in the late 1980s can't help but fondly remember this hard-trying son of Fappiano, who was constant presence in nearly all of the top races (and thus on their television screens) for three seasons. The deep closer was never as consistently good as Alysheba, Bet Twice, Lost Code, or Java Gold, but always seemed to be in the discussion if not the frame.

Looking back at his record, he clearly saved his best for visits to Gulfstream, Hialeah, Hawthorne, and the Meadowlands, winning the Widener H. (G1), Donn H. (G1), Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2) twice, and Pegasus H. (G1) in addition to his Florida Derby score.