KY Derby Point System

[Thunder Gulch]

They could have just tweaked the graded earnings system by discounting the 2yo and filly races, and we could have a better system. I was always irked by the cry for somebody on the bubble who scheduled a 2 prep spring and then fell short of expectations in one of them. I agree completely that 2yo races and sprints should be discounted, but not by a 10-1 ratio. If you're going to do that, how about discounting your beloved Bluegrass since it's not on dirt? The breeders will never let that happen, but with so much emphasis on the March/April races, the Bluegrass will become more irrelevant than ever in terms of producing Derby contenders, and instead will continue a parade of turf bred misfits. If you have a proven dirt Derby contender needing a few more points, do you go to Keenland?

The other thing I don't like is that they are assigning the races to run and taking it out of the track hands. Somewhere like Sunland bumps purses to try to make themselves a relevant Derby prep, but it would now be hard for somebody else to step up to the plate putting money in the game because nobody will take that route since Churchill says it isn't the way to go.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

They could have just tweaked the graded earnings system by discounting the 2yo and filly races, and we could have a better system.

First of all -- who are all of the fillies who have raced in the Kentucky Derby that didn't belong?

Here is a list of every filly to race in the Derby since 1945:

2010 Devil May Care
2008 Eight Belles
1999 Excellent Meeting
1999 Three Ring
1995 Serena's Song
1988 Winning Colors
1984 Life's Magic
1984 Althea
1982 Cupecoy's Joy
1980 Genuine Risk
1959 Silver Spoon

That's a pretty outstanding collection right there. 2 of the 11 even won the race.

But, I know, My Adonis needs and deserves to be in the starting gate -- over these undeserving fillies.

And Grade 1 two-year-old route racing is more interesting and often more truly run races than the Derby preps. A lot of top 2-year-olds don't come back to form at age 3, but it's often because of physical setbacks and they rarely make the Derby -- and when they do -- they're virtually never taking the spot of a better horse.

You're basically just eliminating horses like Birdstone and Lemon Drop Kid who were outstanding Grade 1 winning 2yo routers -- but had a few minor setbacks and performed poorly in the Derby preps. Is My Adonis more deserving because he clunked up for 3rd in the Holy Bull and 2nd Gotham and 4th in the Wood Memorial?