Tremendous Saturday of racing setting up
 

Can't remember the last time we had one day with so much graded action at so many different tracks..

• The G1 Man O' War at BEL, with of course, the potential of Curlin's turf debut to go along with the presence of past BC Turf champs Better Talk Now and Red Rocks.
• The always fun Summit of Speed card at CRC with four super graded races on the docket.
• The $500,000 Delaware Oaks (G2) at DEL, with surprise entrant Proud Spell coming back just two weeks after her hard luck third in the Mother Goose, not to mention the $300,000 R.G. Dick (G3) at 11 furlongs on the grass.
• The already discussed relatively strong field in the Swaps (G2, $350,000) at Hollywood.
• A trio of graded stakes (G2 American Derby, G3 Arlington Handicap, G3 Modesty H.) on the grass at AP for Million Preview Day.
• The Long Branch, the NJ prep for the Haskell at MTH.
• Even Woodbine features the G2 $300,000 Dance Smartly at nine furlongs on turf.

Here's hoping the weather cooperates across the land!

Why would Proud Spell run at Delaware Saturday in a Grade 2 at Delaware as opposed to the CCA Oaks, a Grade 1, the following week at Belmont?

Must be something about the weather in Delaware.

Why exactly is a race for colts named after Canada's best FILLY of all time?!? :zz:

$120,000.

It might not be actually. The DRF stakes schedule doesn't seem to list sex in the conditions of the races. :o

The Dance Smartly is for fillies and mares.

If the MOW shapes up as expected, I may make one of my rare Belmont appearances.

Why you tryin' to confuse me!!!! :D

I think the CCA Oaks is $350K....but if you think they are running at Delaware because the purse is higher then I have a bridge to sell you.

I understand your what you are implying but 2 other things come to mind: Loyalty to the track where you keep your main stable and irritation with the stewards ruling last time. Do you give any validity to either?

I was actually " implying " pretty much just that. Delaware Park has been really good to Larry Jones.

$300k, might be $350k after bonuses/nominations/etc... but I hear you. Why would you run in NY after you just got unfairly DQ'd there? Not to mention this is a VERY easy spot, at Jones' home track, at a mile and a sixteenth, which is right in her wheelhouse- whereas who knows what she'd do at 10F. Additionally, she doesn't need the CCA G1 to secure her broodmare value at this point.

Didn't look like she was liking the track as much as she has other tracks. Could have been because of poor position. To me, it's enough of the former to avoid that track. I doubt others will agree though.

She's no cinch against She's All Eltish.

As for not liking the track. She liked it plenty last Fall. So much for that.

I would think that with credentials as a grade one winner having already been established, other things gain in importance, such as location, distance, and purse.

She looked like she was just tolerating it that day, too. Just nobody but her doing anything. Obviously she can win on it, but I think she is better on other tracks. If you think she looks good on it, then I can't help ya. Look at the action she has in the Matron, and compare it to the action she has in the race before(at Delaware.) She likes Delaware better. She also likes the Fairgrounds track better than Belmont. My guess is they are confident to try her on 2 weeks rest because they think she likes that surface (a lot.) I agree about the 3rd week of rest being better(it's an issue.) I would imagine they are a lil steamed with the homer stewards at Belmont. Why the fck would they go back there? I expect her to romp at home.

I must be slow, but I thought she was racing in Delaware because Trainer's as in A. Dutrow, P. Walder and the aforementioned L. Jones are all hitting at 30+ % this meet. Must be something in the water...

That too.;)