Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind
Simple and true.
I would love to know why races like the Gazelle are still a Grade 1. It comes three weeks after arguably NY's biggest Grade 1 restricted to 3YO fillies....the Alabama. It's almost like saying " hey, don't worry if you weren't good enough for the Alabama, you can still get a Grade 1 in a much weaker spot ". And, I basically agree with the poster who asked why the Prioress is a Grade 1. OK, it's the only Grade 1 at 6F restricted to 3YO fillies. Great, who the hell said we needed one. Somebody remind me, what is the Grade 1 race at 6F restricted to 3YO colts? Off the top of my head I can't think of one. It seems to me the Acorn, Mother Goose, CCA Oaks, Alabama and Test are enough races restricted to 3YO fillies at Grade 1 level for NY.
Whatever race ends the 3YO filly series at Santa Anita probably shouldn't be a Grade 1 either. Wow....last year it produced Balance! And, while I'm ranting, why is the Garden City, a 3YO filly stake on the grass at Belmont, a Grade 1? Yes, it has had some nice fields, but this year the very mediocre Magnificent Song won it, last year while the first two finishers are nice horses it was a four horse field and a few years ago my friend Pete's horse, Indy Five Hundred, won it and she's hardly a Grade 1 quality horse.
While I am on it, I know the Carter has a lot of history, but unless this year's field is SUBSTANTIALLY better than the absolute crap that ran in it this year it needs to be downgraded. If they don't come for these races then they should not retain their ratings.
This is off the top of my head, so I am sure there are others, but frankly I would rather watch " The 400 Blows " than even think about how screwed up this game is.
|