Santa Anita to Keep Present Surface

[sumitas]

Should be an interesting BC. I'm expecting a lot better racing on the poly than they had on that concrete the last BC.

[the_fat_man]

Sounds real nice. Maybe, now, with the money they'll save, they might be able to afford FULL HEADON replays. Splurge, boys.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Should be an interesting BC. I'm expecting a lot better racing on the poly than they had on that concrete the last BC.

You're the best.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Should be an interesting BC. I'm expecting a lot better racing on the poly than they had on that concrete the last BC.

You talking about last time at Santa Anita?? Because I think last year was more like soup than concrete.


- Kinda figured they'd stick to what they have... I mean they're not exactly rolling in the dough right now.

[sumitas]

The last BC at SA. Last year sucked too.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by sumitas

The last BC at SA. Last year sucked too.

yeah but you can blame mother nature for that.

I know how much you love poly.. but when Go Between beats curlin and Big Brown in the BC I will throw up a little.

[sumitas]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

yeah but you can blame mother nature for that.

I know how much you love poly.. but when Go Between beats curlin and Big Brown in the BC I will throw up a little.

Mother nature ? They had as much rain at Keeneland and their track was perfect, unaffected by the rain.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Mother nature ? They had as much rain at Keeneland and their track was perfect, unaffected by the rain.

Are you a moron?

Mother nature is SOLELY to blame for last year's BC, hell, they might have CANCELLED racing if it were in California and that amount of rain....

[sumitas]

Keeneland was just fine, thank you. If tracks want to keep that out dated dirt, then they suffer the consequences of the weather.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Mother nature ? They had as much rain at Keeneland and their track was perfect, unaffected by the rain.

Ah yes, who could forget that Breeders' Cup on polytrack at Keeneland? That was a fun time.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Should be an interesting BC. I'm expecting a lot better racing on the poly than they had on that concrete the last BC.

I liked the 2003 BC just fine, thank you.

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Should be an interesting BC. I'm expecting a lot better racing on the poly than they had on that concrete the last BC.

No Poly at Santa Anita. Cushion track is different. quite different. Horses who run on Cushion can usually show the same form on dirt.

[theiman]

The 2003 BC at SA was in 95 degree heat and fires all around LA area

The 2007 BC @ Monmouth was 55 degrees and rain all around NJ

BC @ Belmont has never been higher than the low 50's, with a northern breeze it always felt colder.

Perhaps a change of time in the year for the BC?..........or just pick your poison for a venue.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by theiman

The 2003 BC at SA was in 95 degree heat and fires all around LA area

The 2007 BC @ Monmouth was 55 degrees and rain all around NJ

BC @ Belmont has never been higher than the low 50's, with a northern breeze it always felt colder.

Perhaps a change of time in the year for the BC?..........or just pick your poison for a venue.

Tampa Bay Downs, here we come.

[alysheba4]

curlin can run on broken glass and win........

[pick4]

As a good as Curlin ran in the JCGC, BC Classic and DWC, one could argue that he beat a horse who peaked at Saratoga (Lawyer Ron) and was regrsssing when he ran in the JCGC. Curlin clearly relished the slop at Monmouth but the runner up's only win at 1 1/8 or more was a race on Polytrack at Turfway. The Dubai Classic was weak and he beat a bunch of slow horses in that race.


Is Curlin a very good horse? Yes!! He has proved on the track that he is a good horse. He's the best older horse dirt distance runner still in training. Is he unbeatable? No.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by pick4

As a good as Curlin ran in the JCGC, BC Classic and DWC, one could argue that he beat a horse who peaked at Saratoga (Lawyer Ron) and was regrsssing when he ran in the JCGC. Curlin clearly relished the slop at Monmouth but the runner up's only win at 1 1/8 or more was a race on Polytrack at Turfway. The Dubai Classic was weak and he beat a bunch of slow horses in that race.


Is Curlin a very good horse? Yes!! He has proved on the track that he is a good horse. He's the best older horse dirt distance runner still in training. Is he unbeatable? No.

nice try, but i'm not buying any of it. if he's beatable then let me know who it is that can do it.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by pick4

As a good as Curlin ran in the JCGC, BC Classic and DWC, one could argue that he beat a horse who peaked at Saratoga (Lawyer Ron) and was regrsssing when he ran in the JCGC. Curlin clearly relished the slop at Monmouth but the runner up's only win at 1 1/8 or more was a race on Polytrack at Turfway. The Dubai Classic was weak and he beat a bunch of slow horses in that race.


Is Curlin a very good horse? Yes!! He has proved on the track that he is a good horse. He's the best older horse dirt distance runner still in training. Is he unbeatable? No.

I think this is absolutely true and very similar to Big Brown this year. Curlin and BB are both helped by the fact that there is no competition out there for them. Both are very good horses but both are probably a little overrated. Curlin might just be unbeatable this year because there is nothing out there but he's not so good that he's an unbeatable horse, if that makes any sense. Remember, this is a horse that ran third in the Derby, won the Preakness by a nose, lost the Belmont, and was third in the Haskell. So obviously, when he faces other good horses, he can be beaten. He's good but he's no superhorse.

[asudevil]

Originally Posted by theiman

The 2003 BC at SA was in 95 degree heat and fires all around LA area

The 2007 BC @ Monmouth was 55 degrees and rain all around NJ

BC @ Belmont has never been higher than the low 50's, with a northern breeze it always felt colder.

Perhaps a change of time in the year for the BC?..........or just pick your poison for a venue.

Turf Paradise??

[Rupert Pupkin]

It rained at Santa Anita the last couple of days and the track did not drain well. I wonder if this will make them reconsider. I don't know how they can keep the current surface if it's not draining properly. What if it rains in October right before the BC? I know they are going to do some more tests in the next week or two. If the track doesn't drain properly when they do these tests, I would think they would have to reconsider. I would think that alot will depend on what advice Ian Pierce gives them. He is supposed to supervise the tests.