Quote:
|
Originally Posted by repent
you can believe that if you want.
but the reality is that it has replaced the main track at several major racetracks.
its not like they replaced the turf course or they added a 3rd course to KEE.
they took away the dirt and its always going to be aligned with dirt.
Im not saying that you change the grading of the stakes b/c they are run on polytrack.
Im saying you do have to reavaluate the status of each race on an individual basis.
when you do that, several KEE races have lost some of their importance.
when and if this diminishes the quality of the fields, then I hope they are downgraded.
I would hate to see the Blue Grass remain a Grade 1 year after year when it loses its place as a key KY Derby prep.
and it will happen.
how many top 3YOs will prep in the Blue Grass by 2008?
Im guessing none. the purse will make it an attractive spot, but Im guessing you will see mostly a field of turf horses and failed dirt horses.
Repent
|
As long as trainers think the surface is safe, I don't think they will have a problem prepping for big races on the polytrack. I don't think the field in the Bluegrass will suffer at all. One of the main things a trainer is looking for in a prep race is a race that they think their horse will come out of in one piece and be able to move forward from. Doug O' Neil was going to run Lava Man on the turf as a prep for the BC Classic. He ended up changing his mind because the Goodwood came up much easier than the grass race he was looking at.
I really don't see the quality of the field suffering in the Bluegrass at all. In fact, some guys may even be more likely to prep in the Bluegrass because of the polytrack. If they have a good horse who is starting to get a little sore come April, I think they would be more likely to run in the Bluegrass beacsue of the general belief that polytrack is a little more forgiving that dirt.
I don't see any disadvantage to prepping in the Bluegrass Stakes unless you have a horse coming from Southern California who has never run on regular dirt. A horse who has never run on regular dirt would be at disadvantge in the Ky Derby because there isn't much kickback on polytracks so the horse would be getting dirt in his face for the first time in the Ky Derby. I think that would be a big disadvantage. Not only that, if your horse has never run on regular dirt, you don't even know if he will like it.