GS Sat not as good as thought??

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

I hear you, and in a perfect world there would be a linear progression, however the old track could not run 1 mile races and the preps leading up to the Florida Derby were 7F and 1 1/16 races. Now, while it would be nice to go from 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 what has really happened is many trainers use the Fountain of Youth as they used to use the Florida Derby, as their respective dates are now similar, so in many ways little has been changed in the grander scheme of things.

Well, and Stronach has ruined the Florida Derby. But, I'm sure that's all part of his new paradigm.

I donot see why running 1 mile one turn races is a big deal. the 7F to 1 1/16 was better,ihmo. However with the new config. why would many trainers want to a - want to go to 1 1/8th that soon and b - take the chance at drawing an outside post as a final prep 5 weeks out. I think Barbaro will have been the exception to the rule, and we could wait a long time until it happens again, GP got lucky. Your comment of using the Fountian of Youth race in place of the Florida Derby is spot on. In trying to make the Florida Derby a final prep 5 weeks out , they are trying to change the reality of the Derby Trail. This year the FL. Derby is March 31 st. and 1/4 of south florida will be fllying north that same weekend. New paradigm indeed.