7/17-18 (HOL): A Gleam H. & Swaps S. (G2's); Sunset H. (G3)

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Bob Baffert had mentioned the possibility of wheeling Concord Point right back for this race after Golden Itiz bailed.

At the very least, you'd think he'd throw Game On Dude in there, who has been working regularly over at Santa Anita.

Furthermore, I'd imagine Twirling Candy will come out to await the restricted Oceanside at Del Mar on turf, reducing this to a 4-horse joke.

Of course, I think the last 15 runnings of the Swaps have had, at most, 5-horse fields.

I wish the graded stakes committee could cut half the stakes gradings and make it so there is some coherent structure to the race schedule and force a few more horses to run because there is less opportunities to win Grade 1 and Grade 2 events.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I wish the graded stakes committee could cut half the stakes gradings and make it so there is some coherent structure to the race schedule and force a few more horses to run because there is less opportunities to win Grade 1 and Grade 2 events.

That would be good. What's also distressing though is these barns with multiple top class horses aren't even running at all, never mind pitting their charges against each other. Baffert has at least 3 horses eligible for this race, yet none show up. Where the hell is Todd Pletcher with Exhi?

Sidney's Candy vs. Exhi? Sadly, considering the rest of the racing landscape, that could have been an interesting matchup.

Is the mighty American Lion still alive? He was working regularly up through last month. Why is a Grade 3 horse biding his time?