10/8 (KEE): Phoenix S. (G3), Darley Alcibiades S. (G1)

[Linny]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

This race could be Exhibit A in what's wrong with the Graded Stakes system. In the last ten years, only Runway Model and Take Charge Lady won the Alcibiades and went on to become fillies of note.

KEE has been the beneficiary of "grade creep" for years. Remember when the Oak Tree Mile was sending out BC winner/runners-up in droves and the Shadwell Mile got an upgrade?

So few barns run their serious horses before September of their 2yo season (and when they do run it's very infrequent) that we should look at the Euro model of only calling late season destination races G1.