Breeders' Cup Going for Grade 1's Again

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Furthermore, if you actually looked over the names of Prioress winners in the last 20 years you would see a host of Grade 1 horses winning ( and also hitting the board ). If you want to say the entire ratings system is screwed up I can understand but this race has many Grade 1 quality winners by today's standards.

Here's a few names for you......Carson Hollow, Xtra Heat, Marley Vale ( second ), Hurricane Bertie, Capote Belle, Heavenly Prize ( second ), Classy Mirage and Safely Kept.

I agree that several of these were very talented fillies, although most of them were relatively unaccomplished at the time that they ran in the Prioress. My problem with the grades assigned is that too much emphasis is often given to the winner without looking at the overall quality of the field. (This goes against the point I just made, but since 2000, the Prioress winners have included the rather undistinguished I'm Brassy, House Party, Friendly Michelle, Acey Deucey and Wildcat Bettie B.) In many cases, even the years when there were first-class winners of the race, the field was not much more than a glorified NW2X allowance, as opposed to the Test which is like a "summit-meeting" of top 3YO fillies and which connections have long pointed their fillies.


Without regard to history our marketing by the tracks, here are a few grade Is that have fallen on hard times in recent years and should have their status reconsidered, IMO:

Alcibiades (maiden winners the past two years), Ancient Title (short fields on a BC prep weekend when many top sprinters use the Vosburgh or go in fresh), Clement Hirsch Turf (just not a strong race, perhaps due to its 10F distance with BC in a few weeks), DeFrancis Dash (post-BC impact), Gazelle (always a short field and just a few weeks after the Alabama), Gulfstream Park BC Turf (a grade I turf race on the East Coast so early in the season is questionable, at best), Lady's Secret, Sword Dancer (diluted by competition with Arlington Million), and Vanity. There are also a number of those older filly and mare races on the West Coast whose names I often confuse whose grading are undeserved.

[blackthroatedwind]

Then I guess there should be no 2YO Grade 1 races anymore ( save perhaps the BC ) as there are few early NW1X races anymore for 2YOs and most of these races are won by maiden breakers.

But, that's just more fuel for the " there are too many Grade 1s " argument.

I could argue both sides on the Prioress. I guess the bottom line is that it's the only Grade 1 at 6F restricted to 3YO fillies and the division probably deserves at least one race.

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Then I guess there should be no 2YO Grade 1 races anymore ( save perhaps the BC ) as there are few early NW1X races anymore for 2YOs and most of these races are won by maiden breakers.

I'm not necessarily saying that. I have no problem with races like the Hopeful, Del Mar Futurity and Champagne having grade I status. Whether populated by maiden-breakers or not, these races typically draw the "best" maiden-breakers of the lot (i.e., Maimonides and Majestic Warrior this year, and horses like Sky Mesa in the past) and are often "championship-type" races, while the "second-tier" maiden breakers often go elsewhere for a softer spot (Sapling, Futurity). I think there is a big difference between the analysis needed for a 2YO stakes race and that for a mid-summer race for
3YOs, of either gender.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

I'm not necessarily saying that. I have no problem with races like the Hopeful, Del Mar Futurity and Champagne having grade I status. Whether populated by maiden-breakers or not, these races typically draw the "best" maiden-breakers of the lot (i.e., Maimonides and Majestic Warrior this year, and horses like Sky Mesa in the past) and are often "championship-type" races, while the "second-tier" maiden breakers often go elsewhere for a softer spot (Sapling, Futurity). I think there is a big difference between the analysis needed for a 2YO stakes race and that for a mid-summer race for
3YOs, of either gender.

I know you weren't saying that....sorry. I was just more trying to point out that stakes have replaced allowance races in many divisions.