Liam's Map=Cross Traffic part 2?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Danzig

the question was -does the mile water down the classic field? I say no. honor code going in the classic helps make that point. he has done well at a mile, and has never run 10f-but rather than take the safe way out, they are going for broke. I say bravo for them.

They are hardly going for broke by running Honor Code in the Classic. This horse, unbeaten at 9f, was earmarked as the winter book favorite for the Kentucky Derby last year and has been targeting the Classic throughout the year. If he has not started at 10f yet its because outside the Big Cap, Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic in California, there are no Grade 1 10f in NA for older horses other than the Jockey Club Gold Cup. I suppose he could have run in the Grade 2 Suburban (which oscillates b/w 9 and 10f), but clearly Shug McGaughey has been spacing out his races.

Again, the simple fact that Liam's Map (who was generating enthusiastic remarks for the Classic since his Whitney effort) has defected proves that the Mile waters down the Classic. Are we to believe that Liam's Map was never targeting the Classic? Are we to believe that if there were no BC Dirt Mile, Liam's Map would stay in the barn on BC Day?

Why does every horse capable at a mile have to defect to the Dirt Mile to prove the point? Isn't Beholder and Smooth Roller arguably "milers"?

but anyone with a good horse who they think can go 10f will go for it all in the bcc. if they don't have the horse for it, how would them not being in the classic 'water down the classic'?

So suddenly Liam's Map, who was mentioned for the Classic since August, was never a Classic contender?