2009 Graded Stakes

[philcski]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Different divisions makes it an unfair comparison. Each division's races have to be compared to other races within that division, not to races in a different division. Obviously, a race like the Oak Leaf Stakes is not a bigger race with better quality horses than the Oaklawn Hcp. But that's not the the way to look at it, I don't think. I think that the best races in a given division should get the highest ratings. The Madison is one of the three or four best races in the filly/mare sprinters division. The Jamaica is one of the three or four best races for 3yo grass runners. The Suburban is no longer one of the top races for older males.

Fair point, but by that logic the Virginia Derby should be a G1 over the Jamaica, IMO. Gio Ponti, Red Giant, Go Between, English Channel, Kitten's Joy, and Silver Tree are the last 6 winners. Find me a better turf race for 3YO's than that.

And I have pictures of two of the last four winners of the Jamaica hanging in my house.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by philcski

And I have pictures of two of the last four winners of the Jamaica hanging in my house.

You're scaring me.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

You're scaring me.

Well, I have two pictures of you hanging in my house too, does that scare you?













THUD

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by philcski

Fair point, but by that logic the Virginia Derby should be a G1 over the Jamaica, IMO. Gio Ponti, Red Giant, Go Between, English Channel, Kitten's Joy, and Silver Tree are the last 6 winners. Find me a better turf race for 3YO's than that.

And I have pictures of two of the last four winners of the Jamaica hanging in my house.

You'd get no argument from me at all. I think the VA Derby should be the higher rated of the two.

On the subject of the Arkansas Derby, I think it's ridiculous that it's not on par with the Blue Grass, Wood, Florida Derby, and SA Derby. I think they should all be grade two races since they are preps for the real big one but I'm not going to argue whether they should be one's or two's. Whatever they are, they should all be the same. To have the Arkansas Derby as the same grade as it's prep, the Rebel, is beyond stupid.

[blackthroatedwind]

Monterey Jazz is now running in the Cigar.

[Linny]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Monterey Jazz is now running in the Cigar.

Was that intended to impress me?

When he's right he's a pretty good horse. There's not much out there but with Commentator and Magna Graduate and Einstein in KY there's not much left.

[blackthroatedwind]

No, I just saw it on DRF, and found it interesting and surprising. It certainly adds a lot to the race.

[Linny]

Without the pp's I don't remember if his tailing off coincided with Polytrack ala Arson Squad. Obviously he's pretty deadly on the lead and Commentator's absence leaves a spot in the front of the race.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Linny

Without the pp's I don't remember if his tailing off coincided with Polytrack ala Arson Squad. Obviously he's pretty deadly on the lead and Commentator's absence leaves a spot in the front of the race.

You're badly confused. He didn't tail off.....he ran a monster race, albeit while setting a very slow pace, in the Texas Mile and then was injured preparing for the Met Mile.