I re-read what I wrote, and you are probably right..

I guess I only have a problem with those that constantly use the surface as an excuse.. you know what you're getting into going in. You obviously have to take the surface into consideration while handicapping.. Plenty did, and plenty did well.

As for the Aqueduct Inner Dirt statement.. I'm sure that was tongue in cheek.

Congrats to all those who hit big this weekend.

The defeat of Curlin had nothing to do with the surface, more the fact that he isn't quite the horse he was, coupled with being taken on by better horses than he's faced before. Simple, really, and no excuses.

i disagree. that surface helped the top two finishers immensely. and i think curlin yesterday was the same horse he's been. no shame in losing to the top two, and taking nothing away from their wins-but do you really think the outcome would have been the same without pro-ride?

I don't know why you would say that Zenyatta didn't wrap up a dirt championship as well this weekend given her run on both surfaces this year.

Beforehand I struggled to envisage Raven's Pass seeing out 1m2f. Johnny G and he proved me wrong in a big way, showing himself the tip-top performer he's promised to be for a long time. Curlin ran his race, not quite as well as 12 months ago, but the balance of evidence suggests that he's not quite the horse of this time last year, the surface surely immaterial. He was simply coming up against a better calibre of horse than he's faced this season.

I agree almost with all you said, but the "better horses he faced" statement is questionable....somewhat. ;)

Would Raven's Pass even had been in the race if it was raced on dirt?

Ventura would have never been in that race if it were real dirt.

what does that have to do with anything? Would Goldikova been in the mile if it was not on turf?

When did Curlin last face a horse (let alone three) rated in the 130s? I'm going to suggest not for a long time, perhaps ever.

that was by far the best field Curlin faced this year.

yeah, it was.

That may be the best quote in the history of any message board. :D

Now now ... let's not give Kev a big head. :D

A synthetic surface is not turf, but if it is, then that explains why guys like Lukas and Zito never seem to win races over these surfaces.

Actually, I think that Zenyatta, Stardom Bound and Midshipman clinched championships, and Ventura made a case for one (although I would support Intangaroo for her campaign consisting of three Grade I wins).

Kev - are you in the back or front?
Attachment 1051

Clearly I am always the horses ass:)

Santa Anita's Pro-Ride is fair, its legit, and here to stay. Bad horses are still bad on it, good horses are still good on it. No speed bias, no closer bias, no inside/outside bias. The most logical, fittest, and better horses ran well and won there during the breeders cup. Curlin would have won too if Albarado would have given him a proper ride, instead of riding him like the win was a foregone conclusion and the only thing in question was the lengths between him and the rest of the field.

The stuff should be installed at every track in the world.

:wf

I win again!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!