Those that say that the BC Dirt Mile shot the BC in its own foot don't need Liam's Map (nor Honor Code--see his next target--for that matter) to reroute there for any further proof.
Witness:
2007: Corinthian, the Met Mile winner and Gulfstream Park Handicap winner (9.5f) wins over a field including multiple two-turn Graded stakes winner Wanderin Boy, Iselin (9f) winner Gottcha Gold, Cigar Mile and UAE Derby (9f) winner Discreet Cat, and Washington Park Handicap (9.5f) winner Lewis Michael.
2008: Listed stakes winner Albertus Maximus beats sprinter Rebellion (should have been in BC Sprint), Lewis Michael (again), Louisiana Derby (9f) and Travers placed Pyro, Hollywood Gold Cup winner Mast Track, San Antonio/San Diego/Goodwood winner Well Armed, Super Derby (9f) winner My Pal Charlie, among others. This version took away winners of some major Classic "preps" and was won by a horse that had never won a graded stakes.
2009: Ex-claimer Furtherst Land, who won the Kentucky Cup Classic (9f), beats a field that includes classic winner Mastercraftsman (should have been in turf Mile), G1 turf miler Mr. Sidney (should have been in turf Mile), Forego winner Pyro (should have been in the Sprint). This version took away from 3 BC races and was won by a non-G1 horse.
2010: San Diego and Big Cap and Pac Classic placed Dakota Phone edges Penn Derby (9f) winner Morning Line, G1 winning sprinter Gayego (should have been in Sprint), G1 sprinter Vineyard Haven (should have been in Sprint), Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, future Whitney winner Tizway, and future top sprinter Aikenite. This was Dakota Phone's only Grade 1 win in a 30+ race career.
2011: King's Bishop winner Caleb's Posse (should have been in Sprint) tags Preakness winner Shackleford, top sprinter Trappe Shot (should have been in Sprint), multiple two turn stakes horse Tres Borrachos, Jersey Town (should have been in Sprint), top sprinter The Factor (should have been in Sprint), and Indiana Derby winner Wilburn.
2012: Tapizar, an also ran from the previous year, gets his only career G1 win dusting former Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip, Durham Cup (9f) winner Delegation, top sprinter Emcee (should have been in Sprint), classic winner Shackleford again, and non-G1 winner Fed Biz.
2013: Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents dusts Travers winner Golden Ticket, Wood Memorial and Haskell winner Verrazano, Donn winner Hymn Book, multiple two turn winner Pants on Fire, Woodward and Travers winner Alpha, Grade 1 sprinter Centralinteligence (should have been in Sprint--or scratched since he was vanned off).
2014: Goldencents, reformed as a sprinter (should have been in Sprint), wins again wiring West Virginia Derby winner Tapiture, Pants on Fire again, turf horse Big Bane Theory (should have been in turf Mile), Fed Biz for the 3rd time, and Golden Ticket again.
This race is year in and year out, horrendous. It is a great undercard race to highlight midwest Derby winners, aging former top class runners, and Grade 2 types. In addition to taking away Classic horses here and there, the main problem is it also often draws away top sprinters, especially 7f specialists, which is a shame, because several Sprints have been won by late running/route types from Precisionist to Smile to Gulch to Dancing Spree to Cherokee Run to Lit de Justice to Artax to Midnight Lute. Pleasant Tap, Dispersal, Grand Slam, Honour and Glory placed in the race. I guess the lamented loss of Aldebaran haunts the trainers of those type horses nowadays.
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