3/14-15 (GP): GP H.; Palm Beach S.; Hrecmsthbrde; InsdInfo
 

9th (5:14) Palm Beach S. (G3)

1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Sweetlandofliberty Cruz M R 114 L
2 Stormalory Douglas R R 116 L
3 Casey's On Call Baird E T 114 L
4 Lime Rickey Velasquez C 114 L
5 Duke of Homberg (GB) Decarlo C P 120 L
6 Beacon Hill Road Lezcano J 116 L
7 El Crespo Castellano J J 114 L



10th (5:45) Gulfstream Park H. (G2)

1 Mile | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 Cool Coal Man Lezcano J 118 L
2 Formidable Castellano J J 112
3 How's Your Halo Leyva J C 117 L
4 Bribon (FR) Velasquez C 117 L
5 Finallymadeit Nunez E O 118 L
6 Smooth Air Lopez P 118 L

Wow......not exactly a field to set the world on fire. Has the GP handicap always been run the same weekend as the more lucrative New Orleans handicap (which drew a full field)? Not sure if that mattered much, but I assume Dry Martini and It's a Bird went west for the extra $$$.

It also is a lot less classy at 1 mile than 1 3/16ths.

There are too few graded races around classic distance as it is. Going from 9.5 to this glorified sprint is pretty disappointing.

8th (4:37) Herecomesthebride S. (G3)

1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | Fillies | 3 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Obsequious Prado E S 114 L
2 Bluegrass Princess Velazquez J R 114 L
3 Dream Empress Desormeaux K J 122 L
4 Oilgonewile Henry W 120 L
5 Fast Tigress Castellano J J 116 L
6 Gozzip Girl Trujillo E 120 L
7 Guarda Leparoux J R 114 L
8 Candle Maker Garcia Alan 114 L



9th (5:07) Inside Information S. (G2)

7 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Stormin Mon Bridgmohan J V 116 L
2 Any Limit Velasquez C 122 L
3 Keep the Peace Leparoux J R 118 L
4 Precious Kiss Jacinto J 120 L
5 Game Face Velazquez J R 122 L
6 Pious Ashley Castellano J J 114 L

Who exactly are the killers out there that are missing in order for the field to have set the world on fire.

Given the horses available this is a good race.

It is a good race, and no matter who you like, you will get a playable price.

Disappointing? To whom?

Less classy? Really? A legit prep towards the Met Mile is less classy than the famed and storied 9.5f Gulfstream Park Handicap?

What race would you rather have... A plod-fest with a handful of nowhere-else-to-go 7 year olds, or a one turn mile that happens to fit nicely into the run-up towards the Metropolitan with some horses still capable of career form mode?

In point of fact, there is a lot more potential and probable public interest in an expanded series of winter to spring races that culminate with the Met Mile than in a hackneyed mile and three sixteenths crawlathon.

(And P.S., as it happens, there are plenty of the "BC Marathon" preps that pick up the slack for this treasured "division" later in the year...)

Does Candle Maker have a shot in the HereComestheBride? I think this was the Tapit filly that broke her maiden in her first start after breaking slowly......

I'm really looking forward to the GP Handicap - he has a bad post, but I want to see if Cool Coal Man can continue to move forward off of his sharp 4 year old debut some weeks back. I'm also interested to see how Formidable does (I like him a lot), but I admit - I've only got eyes for CCM in this race. I hope the track is going to be fast.....

I know what you are saying, A 300K Grade2 @ 9.5f isn't going to attract many good classic distance horses, and it probably scares away the miler types. At least of the 6 entered, we did get a few interesting runners here.

I happen to be against any trend in shortening up the classic distance in general. I usually pass anything less than a mile if it isn't top class or a vulnerable favorite. For me, a true gradeI 10 furlong race is the aesthetic highpoint of the game.

Cool Coal Man
Formidable
Bribon
Smooth Air

Great Race from Smooth Air !

candle maker top choice.... empress may need one..

One of the most hilarious things I've read all spring was that McPeek was planning to take Dream Empress to the English Oaks. That would have been very, very ugly.

She's not even the best turf filly in his barn and will almost certainly be overbet in here.

NT

Bluegrass Princess had an interesting trip in her last, she should offer abit of value to the obvious choices in here. This isn't the strongest of fields so she could jump up here.