Country Star will not race in 3 weeks
 

Passing a Grade 1 race worth $2MM with one of the likely favorites. What is this world coming to?

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/nat...ders’-Cup.aspx

Just won a Gr. I on a quick turnaround. Frankel is not going to spin her back a third time in 6 weeks on a gimmick track. He says she's one of the best horses he's ever had, and he'll be handling her judiciously.

By "gimmick" track do mean one that is known for having a HUGE SPEED Bias?

So Monmouth is a " gimmick " track?

What does that make Keeneland?

While I understand handling her cautiously, it's not like she was gutted on Friday. Her debut race looked tougher than this one did. And she's going to get 3 months off anyway. It's just hard to fathom passing a $2MM race with a horse that is legitimately one of the favorites.

He's passing because, in all likelihood, he knows she's not a dirt horse. That's why she debuted on the turf.

I was thinking the same thing. It's just hard to think that an Empire Maker could not handle the dirt, real dirt that is.

Not only is her sire Empire Maker a Grade 1 winner on dirt - but her mother, the Washington state bred Rings A Chime is a Grade 1 winner on dirt as well - albeit her Grade 1 should have an asstric next to it - as it came in wire-to-wire fashion on Keeneland's old dirt track in the Ashland.

Took the words out of my mouth.

Maybe she takes after Good Reward.

Gimmicky.. albeit a different gimmick...

I think it is tough to scratch from the BC the day of the race. Probably a preemptive measure by Frankel.

Seriously, this horse would have had a better shot in the Juv Turf race. No way she was winning the Juv Fillies on DIRT.

I think Frankel can handle it from here
:)

She's done enough.

That was my thought as well.

Empire Maker siring a G1 already makes me ill.

Philski if Empire Maker siring a grade one winner makes you ill, then your "sickness" is terminal.

Empire Maker is as well bred as a horse can be, was a terrific racehorse, has outstanding conformation and has covered over one hundred of the best mares in each of his three seasons. BBB

Another drive-by shooting brought to you by "BBB."

I'm very aware of what he has going for him, thanks. It's more the fact that he lacks the "heart" I look for in a truly great one- he had more talent than almost any horse I've ever seen but there were several performances that left a bad taste in my mouth. I'll forgive the Derby as it was an overconfident ride by Bailey and he wasn't 100% by all accounts, and the Belmont was a reasonably good performance, but the Jim Dandy and subsequent retirement was frustrating (I bet Strong Hope in that race, by the way, not sour grapes...)
Also, I was disappointed he was treated as the king of the barn when I KNEW the best 3YO in the country, not just his barn, was kind of an afterthought.

If you draw a line through Street Sense's loss in the Blue Grass Stakes - as the pace was impossibly slow and hurt the figure.....you'll see that Empire Maker and Street Sense's 3-year-old season had a lot in common speed figure wise.

Street Sense at age three (w/ Blue Grass loss Excluded)

* 6 starts

* never worse than 2nd

* 2 Grade 1 wins

* Top Beyer figure of 111

* Avg Beyer figure of 107.16


Empire Maker at age three (all races included - even Sham Stakes loss to Man Among Men)

* 6 starts

* never worse than 2nd

* 3 Grade 1 wins

* Top Beyer figure of 111

* Avg Beyer figure of 107.16


Interestingly enough - Empire Maker lost his division championship to the "gutsy gelding" .... while Street Sense is at the crossroads of his legacy going into the BC Classic. He could become a 1st ballot Hall of Famer (the Horrah!) if he wins a clearly below par running of the Classic. Or, with a Curlin victory he will lose his own division. And would also probably lose his own divison in the unlikely event that Any Given Saturday or Hard Spun are able to win the Classic in very authorative fashion.