Georgie Boy

[ArlJim78]

Interesting tidbit about Big Booster, he broke his maiden at first asking at Belmont at 1 mile on dirt (off turf). running second? Kittens Joy.

[miraja2]

I certainly didn't think there would be a "Big Booster" debate on the board today. Unless I am forgetting something, I don't think the horse has ever cracked the exacta in any graded stakes race on any surface....let alone win one.
Doesn't he basically just stink regardless of the surface?

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I certainly didn't think there would be a "Big Booster" debate on the board today. Unless I am forgetting something, I don't think the horse has ever cracked the exacta in any graded stakes race on any surface....let alone win one.
Doesn't he basically just stink regardless of the surface?

yes, basically thats right. the topic veered off on to Big Booster because of a throwaway statement I made about him while trying to stimulate a different discussion.
He has not been anything exceptional on turf throughout his career, and he is not exceptional now in California on synthetic. He is better on turf and synthetic than dirt. not a big story really.

[RolloTomasi]

Just to add one more ingredient in case anyone wanted to keep the Big Booster debate alive...

He was gelded last year (as was Sun Boat) when claimed by Mike Mitchell and brought to CA.

Not sure if the public was notified in a timely manner when he paid $50, though.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Big Booster ran 8th for Mike Mitchell in his first start after he was gelded. Than came his synthetic debut win over Heatseeker.

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Big Booster ran 8th for Mike Mitchell in his first start after he was gelded. Than came his synthetic debut win over Heatseeker.

I know, I bet him. Just ran around without making a move that day. I think he was coming off a bit of a layoff that day.

Of course, I failed to bet him back.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

yes, basically thats right. the topic veered off on to Big Booster because of a throwaway statement I made about him while trying to stimulate a different discussion.

I wasn't trying to ignore what you asked. It is tough off the top of my head to list horses that fit your criteria. I think I know where you are going, and that is that horses seem fine moving from synthetic to dirt. I will agree it is more common for horses to move in that direction than vise versa.

There are plenty that don't take to dirt though. Just looking at Tuesday I found the following no name horses that seem to have a preference for synthetic. Synthetic races are in blue, dirt brown, grass green...most recent race to the left. They are overall performance ratings, each one a race, and do take into account maturation, pace, speed, etc...Beyer scale.

6  Just You and I Kid     15    40    37    39
4  Finale's Gold          44    13    21    64    54    21    48    50    57    58
6  Circular Reasoning     60    43    50    65    61    79    76    41    66    60
5  Payment in Kind        58    56    60    67    58    58    57    37    68    78
7  Jake's Da Man          29    52    62    55    63    54    59    49    67    59
8  Sterling Justice       35    39    47    33    31
7  Dancinginocidental     63    48    70    67    60    64    60    46    58    54

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I wasn't trying to ignore what you asked. It is tough off the top of my head to list horses that fit your criteria. I think I know where you are going, and that is that horses seem fine moving from synthetic to dirt. I will agree it is more common for horses to move in that direction than vise versa.

There are plenty that don't take to dirt though. Just looking at Tuesday I found the following no name horses that seem to have a preference for synthetic. Synthetic races are in blue, dirt brown, grass green...most recent race to the left. They are overall performance ratings, each one a race, and do take into account maturation, pace, speed, etc...Beyer scale.

6  Just You and I Kid     15    40    37    39
4  Finale's Gold          44    13    21    64    54    21    48    50    57    58
6  Circular Reasoning     60    43    50    65    61    79    76    41    66    60
5  Payment in Kind        58    56    60    67    58    58    57    37    68    78
7  Jake's Da Man          29    52    62    55    63    54    59    49    67    59
8  Sterling Justice       35    39    47    33    31
7  Dancinginocidental     63    48    70    67    60    64    60    46    58    54

yeah I know, I'm not familiar with those horses by name, I'll have to look them up. thats basically where I was going. my idea is that its not as hard for a horse in sharp form on synthetic to take to dirt, as it is for SOME dirt horses to take their sharp form to synthetic. Its kinda hard to back it up though because there is not a lot of shippers out of CA to dirt tracks.
If I pay attention to horses that ship out of Arlington this year I might be able to back it up.