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Originally Posted by ELA
G1 races are on the calender and pointed to as part of a campaign -- this Monmouth race was put together, late in the game, and made with a checkbook.
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No kidding.
However - the conditions of the Man O' War made it a must avoid for a few horses. Dancing Forever and Einstein would have both had to give 8 pounds away to BOTH Red Rocks and Curlin - and thus both passed the race even though they were in sharp form coming off of Grade 1 wins.
The Monmouth race got a respectable field because of the big purse combined with the fact the favorite hadn't run on the lawn since his maiden race.
With male turf horses Graded Stake status isn't as big a deal as it is with dirt horses or female turf horses. They don't exactly make hot commercial stallion prospects.