Derby replaces graded earnings with point system

[outofthebox]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Has the Illinois Derby really been worse than, say, the Blue Grass or Lexington in recent years? Horses like War Emblem, Ten Most Wanted, Pollard's Vision, even Musket Man went on to have decent careers in the Triple Crown races and beyond. Compare that with recent Blue Grass winners. The last Blue Grass winner to ever do anything with his career on dirt was...Peace Rules maybe?

The Blue Grass and the UAE Derby have no business being in the 100 point category or considered beyond gr.3 anymore. But the Bluegrass is like Keeneland, it cant be fooled with. Since synthetic we have Monbar, General Quarters, Stately Victor and Brilliant Speed. No graded stakes on the dirt between them.