When weight is important!

As a followup, my post was indeed induced by Hard Spun's loss in the Southwest. I read about 400 posts, stories and articles, both before and after the race and only one person mentioned the highweight (the venerable John Piesen). I would not blame weight for the loss, there were many other negatives, but as Piesen is aware sophomores giving weight is never good.

I acknowledge weight is a minute handicapping factor or perhaps even moot in most thoroughbred races. However you seldom see Friedman or Brown not mention it when they analyze a race. The works of Beyer, Quinn, Davidowitz etc. all briefly mention weight and largely downplay its significance, yet for 3yo's in the spring it is vital. If you watch the 3yo's over the next sixty days and take weight into account you will cash more tickets.

Cakes, Drugs, et. al.: The races I mentioned may be terrible examples but in each case the tenet held, as it has for decades.

S.T. et al: I do try to make my posts esoteric and provocative feeling if you are not doing something different... I wish I wrote better. Thanks for the kind words. BBB

[Thunder Gulch]

I'm not saying it has no effect, but I would argue that nobody knows how a particular animal will react to weight. I remember everyone talking about how War Emblem was picking up 14 lbs from the Illinois Derby to the KY Derby, yet it really didn't seem to bother him as I recall.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Trust me,weight matters a lot.I think it matters the least in the exact races where it is talked about the most(stakes races for older horses.)I think it matters the most with fillies,and especially cheap fillies(young or old.) As far as the 3 year old Triple Crown preps go,if the talent is there,the weight isn't getting them beat.Keyed Entry,and F. Samurai were not successful 2 turn horses,and BOB N JOHN was not that good to begin with.So,yes giving up weight could have helped get them beat.The less talented 3 year olds would be the ones who are bothered by it.In other words,I think weight would be more important in a grade 3 stakes for three year olds.I'll put in this way......If you gave P VAL the weight break that apprentices get,he would go absolutely on a tear.He wouldn't be taking extra time off etc.,because he would not want to miss out on all the wins he would be getting.Weight matters a lot in the day in/day out races with cheap filly maidens,and it matters a lot with cheap filly claimers (i.e. Antifreezette trying to get that extra half furlong.... etc.)

[jpops757]

Weight does matter but when I cap a race Iput so little importance on it I dont give it any consideration. After the race and I missed a nice shot Ilook back and something so simple as weight could have made a change in my pick and thus a winning ticket. While I still dont put weight high on my capping list , it does matter.