7/2-4 (BEL): Suburban/Dwyer; Futurity/Matron/Bed o' Roses; Prioress

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by JJP

LOL. Take out 2001 and 2002 and you just proved my point.

By my count, I had 22 different horses that were competitive in Grade 1 races before and/or after the Prioress. That's an average of around 2 per running, which isn't too shabby nowadays. With an average of 8 starters per running, that's better than 25% of the field.

A little higher than 7% at any rate.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

By my count, I had 22 different horses that were competitive in Grade 1 races before and/or after the Prioress. That's an average of around 2 per running, which isn't too shabby nowadays. With an average of 8 starters per running, that's better than 25% of the field.

A little higher than 7% at any rate.

It's especially impressive given the limited Grade 1 opportunities for this division.

[Travis Stone]

On the list of races that need downgrading... Prioress is one of the races toward the bottom, probably below the line that reads, "Does not need downgrading."

The graded stakes system is not perfect... assigning a race a G1 (or any grade) title before it's run is very much so cart before the horse. But changing it would be a monumental task and prove futile.

[JJP]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

By my count, I had 22 different horses that were competitive in Grade 1 races before and/or after the Prioress. That's an average of around 2 per running, which isn't too shabby nowadays. With an average of 8 starters per running, that's better than 25% of the field.

A little higher than 7% at any rate.

First off, the information you posted isn't very complete. A horse can clunk up for 2nd beaten 8 lengths and never be a factor in a race. And if a horse had run 15 other times besides the Prioress, and one time they were Grade 2 placed, does that legitimize the horse running in a Grade 1? Of course not.

I'd be curious to see the Beyers of the winners.....especially from 2003 to 2006. I doubt any of them approached 100. They'd probably be lucky to hit 95.

Bottom line: if those fields of horses in those years had been running at Oaklawn, Emerald Downs or Hawthorne, the race would be a Grade 3.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by JJP

First off, the information you posted isn't very complete. A horse can clunk up for 2nd beaten 8 lengths and never be a factor in a race. And if a horse had run 15 other times besides the Prioress, and one time they were Grade 2 placed, does that legitimize the horse running in a Grade 1? Of course not.

This argument is not complete. It's all generalized BS. Find the specific horses that fit the scenarios you just described and maybe it will hold weight.

I listed 38 horses. They were either graded stakes winners (any grade) and/or grade 1 placed. I didn't list grade 2 or grade 3 placings. Of those 38, at least 27 fit the criteria more than once.

Bottom line: if those fields of horses in those years had been running at Oaklawn, Emerald Downs or Hawthorne, the race would be a Grade 3.

That must mean the Test would be a Grade 2?