Smooth Air

[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.