Graded Stakes Committee Makes Changes

[DaTruth]

I feel better knowing that the Blue Grass remains a Grade 1.

[freddymo]

How the F is the BEST 2 year old race ....The Hopeful not a G! at SPA

[slotdirt]

Charles Town Classic!

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by freddymo

How the F is the BEST 2 year old race ....The Hopeful not a G! at SPA

Everyone knows there is no good 2 year old racing at Saratoga...

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Everyone knows there is no good 2 year old racing at Saratoga...

Yep we need to promote Keeneland and their SPECIAL horse healthy racing surface.. Shameful simply shameful ..Its the Hopeful for Christ sake..The winners of the Hopeful line the Hall of Fame..THE FN BREEDERS CUP JUVY SPRINTS ?

[rgustafson]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Yep we need to promote Keeneland and their SPECIAL horse healthy racing surface.. Shameful simply shameful ..Its the Hopeful for Christ sake..The winners of the Hopeful line the Hall of Fame..THE FN BREEDERS CUP JUVY SPRINTS ?

Not saying that I disagree with your rant about the Hopeful downgrade, but the Graded Stakes committe uses certain criteria to make their recommendations and evidentally felt that recent runnings did not measure up. Your other comments are somewhat misconstrued. The Keeneland upgrade, the Jenny wiley is on the turf so no promotion of their SPECIAL surface there, though I understand your comment pertains to leaving the Blue Grass a Grade I. As far as the Breeders Cup races that were upgraded they were the Juvenile Fillies Turf( not a sprint) and the Turf Sprint for older males, 3& up. I thimk that you would agree that it has pretty much been a foregone conclusion that once a Breeders Cup race has been run enough times a Grade I status is awarded( the exception being the Marathon which is an ill concieved joke of a race and hopefully will not be continued)

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by rgustafson

Not saying that I disagree with your rant about the Hopeful downgrade, but the Graded Stakes committe uses certain criteria to make their recommendations and evidentally felt that recent runnings did not measure up. Your other comments are somewhat misconstrued. The Keeneland upgrade, the Jenny wiley is on the turf so no promotion of their SPECIAL surface there, though I understand your comment pertains to leaving the Blue Grass a Grade I. As far as the Breeders Cup races that were upgraded they were the Juvenile Fillies Turf( not a sprint) and the Turf Sprint for older males, 3& up. I thimk that you would agree that it has pretty much been a foregone conclusion that once a Breeders Cup race has been run enough times a Grade I status is awarded( the exception being the Marathon which is an ill concieved joke of a race and hopefully will not be continued)

The 2009 and 2010 runnings of the Hopeful were by no means spectacular but did feature 1-2-3 finishers that subsequently won the Gotham, Jim Dandy, Travers, Commonwealth, and Churchill Downs.

The 2010 Ruffian was won by a G2 winner who came back to place in a G2. The runner-up came back to win the BC Distaff. The year before the 2nd place finisher was a G1 winner and the winner was exiting a 2nd place finish in a G1.

Neither of these two races deserved to be downgraded. The Jenny Wiley and Cotillion were races that deserved to be upgraded.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by rgustafson

I thimk that you would agree that it has pretty much been a foregone conclusion that once a Breeders Cup race has been run enough times a Grade I status is awarded( the exception being the Marathon which is an ill concieved joke of a race and hopefully will not be continued)

Isn't the Turf Sprint pretty much along the same lines, a joke?

[Antitrust32]

it's an absolute disgrace that the Hopeful is no longer a Grade 1. In my opinion it is a premier 2yo race right up there with the BC Juv.

Who the hell makes these kind of decisions?

[rgustafson]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Isn't the Turf Sprint pretty much along the same lines, a joke?

There has been such a large proliferation of this type of race in recent years, especially at some major venues (NYRA tracks in particular) that eventually some halfway decent horses find their way into these races. On the other hand, 1 3/4 miles on the dirt......um. not so much.

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by DaTruth

I feel better knowing that the Blue Grass remains a Grade 1.

Really? I mean the last 5 winners of the race have a total of 3 wins after their victory. Only Brilliant Speed won a graded race (3) . Stately Victor the non graded Ontario Derby. Dominican a allowance race at Presque Isle. General Quarters a few close calls but no wins. Anyone remember Monba? Da Truth i know you were tongue n cheek on your quote...

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by outofthebox

Really? I mean the last 5 winners of the race have a total of 3 wins after their victory. Only Brilliant Speed won a graded race (3) . Stately Victor the non graded Ontario Derby. Dominican a allowance race at Presque Isle. General Quarters a few close calls but no wins. Anyone remember Monba? Da Truth i know you were tongue n cheek on your quote...

General Quarters followed his Bluegrass with a G1 win in the Woodford Reserve at CD on Derby Day 2010.

[VOL JACK]

The real problem with the Graded Stakes, is the absurd amount of Grade 1's on the island known as California.
Unless you consider all the rags Zenyatta beat worth of Grade 1 placing's.

[3kings]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

The real problem with the Graded Stakes, is the absurd amount of Grade 1's on the island known as California.
Unless you consider all the rags Zenyatta beat worth of Grade 1 placing's.

I agree. You would think many CA races will be in for downgrading in the next year or two.

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

General Quarters followed his Bluegrass with a G1 win in the Woodford Reserve at CD on Derby Day 2010.

My bad. How could i forget the retired school teacher winning on Derby Day. Great story!