2009 Graded Stakes

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But Smarty Jones won it!!!! It has to be a Grade 1. He was the most greatest horsey to ever look through a bridle! Hell, the Count Fleet at Aqueduct should be a Grade 1 now too.

Leave him alone you bully

[miraja2]

The Arkansas Derby was a G1 from 1981-1988.

[parsixfarms]

This article from the Bloodhorse summarizes the Committee's work for 2009: http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/48193.htm

First reaction is that, with the state of US racing today, it defies logic that there will be six new grade I races next year, with only one justifiable downgrade (the Suburban). The BC Filly and Mare Sprint is worthy of Grade I status, but the five others are really a stretch, especially Belmont's Jamaica Handicap (a grass race restricted to 3YOs that does not draw fields anywhere close in quality to the Garden City, the fall meet's companion race for 3YO fillies).

[blackthroatedwind]

This would, very possibly, be an unfortunate year for the Suburban to be downgraded. I'm not arguing that it shouldn't necessarily be reviewed, given some recent runnings, but I hope it is given at least one more chance.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

This would, very possibly, be an unfortunate year for the Suburban to be downgraded. I'm not arguing that it shouldn't necessarily be reviewed, given some recent runnings, but I hope it is given at least one more chance.

I'm having a tough time stomaching the Jamaica Handicap as a bigger race than the Suburban.

[blackthroatedwind]

The Jamaica is a Grade 2.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The Jamaica is a Grade 2.

Not anymore apparently.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

I'm having a tough time stomaching the Jamaica Handicap as a bigger race than the Suburban.

Different divisions makes it an unfair comparison. Each division's races have to be compared to other races within that division, not to races in a different division. Obviously, a race like the Oak Leaf Stakes is not a bigger race with better quality horses than the Oaklawn Hcp. But that's not the the way to look at it, I don't think. I think that the best races in a given division should get the highest ratings. The Madison is one of the three or four best races in the filly/mare sprinters division. The Jamaica is one of the three or four best races for 3yo grass runners. The Suburban is no longer one of the top races for older males.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Different divisions makes it an unfair comparison. Each division's races have to be compared to other races within that division, not to races in a different division. Obviously, a race like the Oak Leaf Stakes is not a bigger race with better quality horses than the Oaklawn Hcp. But that's not the the way to look at it, I don't think. I think that the best races in a given division should get the highest ratings. The Madison is one of the three or four best races in the filly/mare sprinters division. The Jamaica is one of the three or four best races for 3yo grass runners. The Suburban is no longer one of the top races for older males.

Fair point, but by that logic the Virginia Derby should be a G1 over the Jamaica, IMO. Gio Ponti, Red Giant, Go Between, English Channel, Kitten's Joy, and Silver Tree are the last 6 winners. Find me a better turf race for 3YO's than that.

And I have pictures of two of the last four winners of the Jamaica hanging in my house.

[Linny]

The Madison was bumped up by Ventura. I admit that I tend to think that the Committee just sits and pants and waits for the chance to upgrade anything Keeneland runs. When the Shadwell Mile and the Maker's Mark mile were upgraded and the Oak Tree Mile not, that was it for me. The Oak Tree had sent out about 4 straight BC Mile winners and several others that ran well.

BTW, IMO, neither the Clark or the Cigar is all that great. Good races, possibly nice betting events (I haven't 'capped them yet obviously, using likely starters in NY) but if they cancelled the Remsen, I'd skip my trip to the Big A on Sat.