To clarify, they are off the turf today and possibly for the ungraded stakes, but there is no way they take million dollar G1 races off the turf on Saturday. From what I read, they are keeping the rail good for the big ones.

It is sort of funny that the top Europeans are not coming over because they would chew up and spit out the American horses on a soft turf. In America they scratch on soft turf but in Europe they run on it all the time. Remember with the exception of one track they can't take the races off the turf to run on dirt. There is no dirt.

Do we?

Is is a common misconception in America that the european horses want soft turf. That isn't the case at all. Most of our good horses would prefer good to firm ground.

I'm very concerned about this soft turf in Monmouth. If it really is as soft as some of you have said, you can forget about seeing Dylan Thomas. Red Rocks wouldn't want it too soft, either, but will probably take his chance.

At this rate, the John Deere turf is going to be an awful race.

Horses that will have benefited through the rain that has fallen are Achill Island (if it's soft he could take all the beating) and Passage Of Time, she wouldn't want it really soft but she enjoys cut in the ground.

All My Loving likes it soft, but i don't see her having much of a chance. Same goes for Timarwa.

Excellent Art has won on ground ranging from Good to Firm and Heavy, so there will be no ground concerns with him.

Jeremy acts on most ground, but i think he is best on Good ground. he doesn't like it firm or really soft.