To answer the original question, I think a good analogy would be the NCAA tourney selection. Its subjective, and fraught with mistakes. There's no reason a race like the Arkansas Derby, after spawning the likes of Smarty Jones, Borrego, Purge, Afleet Alex and the horse who won the 2005 Travers (name escapes me) should've stayed a Grade 2. Meanwhile, a race like the Prioress, which should be fortunate to be a Grade 3 after three miserable renewals, remains a Grade 1. Come to think of it, is there any reason to have any Grade 1 sprints for 3YO fillies? The Test was dreadful as well. The runnerup in the race this past year was coming off an off the board finish against Illinois bred fillies.....and she almost won the Test.
|