7/2-4 (BEL): Suburban/Dwyer; Futurity/Matron/Bed o' Roses; Prioress

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by JJP

OK you got me. The winners of the 2001 and 2002 Prioress were good horses. I guess I should've specified since 2003. Here's the roster of winners since 2003:

2003: House Party
2004: Friendly Michelle
2005: Acey Deucey
2006: Wildcat Bettie B
2007: Dream Rush
2008: Indian Blessing
2009: Cat Moves
2010: Fanny Freud
2011: Her Smile

Like I said earlier, Indian Blessing is a legit Grade 1 horse. Dream Rush? Maybe on her best day. None of the others were worthy of the inflated Grade 1 rating this race has somehow managed to keep. THAT is the truth.

To be fair, Dream Rush was very good, Fanny Freud as well ( don't forget she got hurt after the race and was retired but her resume holds up just fine for this to be a Grade 1..and Acorn/Test winner Champagne D'Oro was in there as well ). I don't have the complete fields, or all the race records, but overall, if you did a fair evaluation, this race holds up OK in that division.

The Gradings system is far from perfect, and there are many races that deserve reevaluation, but considering it is the only 6F Grade 1 for this division, I think it's grading is relatively warranted, if not moreso. What about the slew of synthetic races that got their Gradings when they were dirt races? Is the Spinster a better Grade 1, or worse, than the Prioress, since the switch in surfaces?

Simply put, you can't fairly cherry pick. The discussion needs to be had in its entirety. I am not saying I am against a serious regrading of US races. But, this race always draws these kinds of comments, and they are not as defendable as it may seem on the surface, and the Grading is far more justifiable than any number of annual races.