Quote:
Originally Posted by Sightseek
Thoroughbred Times published a chart recently of the number of starters and races carded for two year olds and the decline is fairly signifcant. Just a few years ago Afleet Alex would be preparing for his 4th start...
(What were they thinking only giving him two weeks between an Allowance and the Sanford Stakes?!  ) |
Affirmed won the Sanford on August 17 and the Hopeful on August 27, after having run in two stakes downstate, the Youthful on June 15 and the Great American on July 6, and flying across country to win the Hollywood Juvenile Championship on July 23. And breaking his maiden at the end of May.
City Zip in 2000 is the last colt to have won all three open stakes for 2yos at Saratoga (there used to be more - Man o' War ran in 4 stakes at Saratoga as a 2yo). This "my horsey is too fragile to run back in two (three, or whatever) weeks" attitude is a very new development. Even Bob Baffert remarked after Silverbulletday was inducted into the Hall of Fame, "I'd forgotten we ran her that often." And that was barely 10 years ago.