The ever consistent, always tough Sun King finishes his racing career with another second, but still goes out a winner in our eyes.Sun KingSun King raced against the very best in a career that spanned 28 races, a virtual “iron horse” by today’s standards. He started his career at two and had two third place gallant efforts in the Grade I Champagne and the Breeders Cup Juvenile.At three, he was the top Kentucky Derby horse at one point after his win in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, but threw in a clunker on that first Saturday in May. He came back later that year to finish a decent second to once Triple Crown star Roman Ruler in the Haskell.At four he had some bad luck in several races but finished a very game second to champion Invasor in the Whitney. It would be the closest anyone would come in 2006 to the brilliant horse, who just may prove to be the greatest horse seen in a long time. He also finished third in the Woodward behind Premium Tap and Second of June.All told he won six times, and rarely ran unplaced in his 28 race career. He always faced the very best, and never ducked the big guys. Sadly, he never won that elusive Grade I, but he certainly made many wonderful attempts and deserves to be thought of with the greats of this decade.As a five year old he never missed a beat and was beaten by Lawyer Ron at his peak in the Woodward, and finished fourth in Curlin’s Jockey Club Gold Cup. Not too shabby to be beaten by only Curlin, Lawyer Ron and Political Force. His owner, Tracy Farmer, and trainer, Nick Zito could surely have wrapped up some lower stakes wins with this horse, but that wasn’t what they wanted for Sun King. They had confidence in him all along, and even in defeat he proved his gameness and competitive edge.In his career he finished in front of stars like Lava Man, Corinthian, Brass Hat, Flower Alley, Papi Chullo, Premium Tap, Wanderin Boy, Evening Attire, Political Force and Funny Cide. Nick Zito said after Sun King’s second place finish in Saturday’s Ack Ack, by emerging star Istan that the five year old horse would be retired. The son of Charismatic finishes his career long after the other stars of 2005 have been retired. He will be missed because in this game it could be a long time before we find another one like him.