As for the BC Dirt Mile, I agree with DrugS but the one that really has me is the Juvie Turf. Is it simply a nod to our Euro friends who of late have not been as dominant in the Mile? The fact is that it's now a "division" with a championship, but no races. I like that KY has carded several 2yo grass stakes at KEE and CD in the fall. I have spoken to a few trainers who actually feel that relatively early stretchouts are less had on young horses on grass than dirt and that (overall) routes are less taxing than sprints so I understand the idea, but IMO the time is not here for such a race as the BC Juvie Turf. Most of the races (in KY) in this "division" are run in Oct and Nov, by which time horses have come through maidens and are ready to stretch out.
For years I have ranted about NYRA not having any grass stakes for babies save for the (now nearly defunct Pilgrim and Miss Grillo very late in the fall). They run about 20 2yo MSW on grass at Belmont/Saratoga annually and the winners then have no place to go. They ship to Canada for the Summer S (G3) but that's it. Now that there is a "championship race" the tracks will begin to scramble to backfill a division. The tail is again wagging the dog.
The dirt mile hurts 2 races and if by chance it has no effect on the Sprint or the Classic then exactly WHO is in it??? Horses that really were not good enough for either!!! In either case something has to give. When you take out the Sun King's and the Congaree's and the Pleasant Tap's you diminish the Classic. Horses like Silver Train and orientate were 'drop back" sprinters who won the Sprint. Both of them might have gone to the Dirt Mile had the option been open. Lion Tamer, Aldebaran and Left bank all would probably have passed the Sprint for a Dirt Mile.
There are only so many true G1 horses and calling a race G1 doesn't always make it so. If a horse is BC caliber he should be looking at the Classic or the Sprint. Save for the Met Mile and the Cigar Mile, as much as everyone loves "the milers" we once again are looking at a race without a division.
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