A weird trend I've noticed....

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Pre BC 2YOs started racing LONG before Saratoga. Post BC they ran so few races as 2YOs that their form was close to meaningless.

That has something to do with it...

But...there have been quite a few older horses that debuted at Saratoga, lost, and won the 3yo division the next year.

In fact, the first offical champion 3-year-old was Granville in '36. He was 3rd in his debut at Saratoga.

Arts and Letters and Stage Door Johnny, who were back-to-back champion 3yo's in the 60's...they both lost debuts at Saratoga.

The great Tom Fool easily won his debut at Saratoga in 1951, and was named champion 2yo. He got beat out by One Count for the division crown as a 3 year-old. He was 10-for-10 as a 4-year-old.

It really just looks like a statistical oddity to me.