Graded Earnings: Is there an alternative?

[whodey17]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I would say yes, if a horse actually won a G2, 9f race in his debut, he would probably deserve a shot to run in the Kentucky Derby. That is not exactly an easy thing to do.
To me, the problem with your argument is that these 9f graded stakes races run between 3 and 5 weeks before the Kentucky Derby are the races that provide the best indications of who really belongs in the Derby. Are there occasionally "fluke" winners of these races that don't actually have a good chance of winning the Kentucky Derby? Sure, but any system that would deny the winners of any of those races a shot, is terribly flawed.

What if one of those races was full of maidens. Does the winner still deserve to go. Why is the Wood, Bluegrass, Arkansas and Santa Anita the beginning and end on who goes to the Derby? The winner of each of those races still could go to the Derby. However, they must have other Graded races as well.

I do agree with your post about the breed. However, that can be changed if racing demands it by setting forth qualifications that make sense in order to race for the biggest prizes.