Smooth Air

[justindew]

I read this quote from Benny Stutts in DRF:

"He loved the grass the first time. In fact he runs on just about everything. I'll work him a slow, useful mile this Sunday, then really set him down five-eighths the following week so he'll be ready to go a mile. He's got lots of things in front of him this year and we're hopeful that somewhere in the U.S. there's a Grade 1 race with his name on it."

By my math, there are 42 Grade I races in America open to males 3YO and up, on all surfaces at all distances. So my quesiton to Stutts is, Only one? Are you aware that Frost Giant is a Grade I winner? Why not two or three for Smooth Air?

Or wait until next year. There will probably be six or seven new Grade Is from which to choose.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by justindew

I read this quote from Benny Stutts in DRF:

"He loved the grass the first time. In fact he runs on just about everything. I'll work him a slow, useful mile this Sunday, then really set him down five-eighths the following week so he'll be ready to go a mile. He's got lots of things in front of him this year and we're hopeful that somewhere in the U.S. there's a Grade 1 race with his name on it."

By my math, there are 42 Grade I races in America open to males 3YO and up, on all surfaces at all distances. So my quesiton to Stutts is, Only one? Are you aware that Frost Giant is a Grade I winner? Why not two or three for Smooth Air?

Or wait until next year. There will probably be six or seven new Grade Is from which to choose.

Actually not, they seem to be reducing the number of G1s for older horses and increasing the number in age restricted races. I assume on the reasoning that the best horses are retiring at the end of their 3yo season so there are less G1 caliber horses in the older horse ranks.

[ninetoone]

I think he would have been getting a little ahead of himself had he said "I think there's two or three grade ones with his name on 'em"...I thought he said it well. Just my opinion...(and I like Smooth Air).

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

Actually not, they seem to be reducing the number of G1s for older horses and increasing the number in age restricted races. I assume on the reasoning that the best horses are retiring at the end of their 3yo season so there are less G1 caliber horses in the older horse ranks.

which is too bad, because they're taking away incentives to run older horses by doing so...and now is the wrong time, because the current business climate will probably result in less big stud deals, and more horses remaining in training. there is less breeding going on right now, people keeping mares out of the shed-the racing end of the sport seems to be on an upswing...

[justindew]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

Another Smooth Air thread?

It's more of a Grade I thread than anything else.

[justindew]

Originally Posted by DaHoss9698

What about them?

There's a lot of 'em.