JC / Railbird

Isn’t this what everyone (read: the hardcore fan) has been pining for: races that mean something in the summer and fall? Is the coming ‘fall championship meet’ going to be closer to living up to taking back its name?
Forget the BC for a sec. Think the real story here is that both Proud Spell and Music Note would most likely get thrashed by Zenyatta, Ginger Punch and Hysterical Lady. The synth/pro ride BC stuff is becoming a built in excuse for connections to duck races, as if there needed to be more excuses for ducking competition.

Posted by o_crunk on August 17, 2008 @ 11:41 pm

For sure! And a meaningful race is what we got on Saturday. I’ll concede everyone is running for second to Zenyatta in the Distaff, not so sure Proud Spell and Music Note couldn’t take on Ginger Punch and Hystericalady in the fall. Proud Spell really impressed me with her toughness, and Music Note is poised to move forward off her last two races. I’ve stayed away from the BC issue, only because I’m waiting to see what trainers do as we get closer to the event — the synthetic surface does give an excuse to duck, and there’ll be lots of complaining over the next two months, but the value of the races are such that a lot of reluctant connections are probably going to head West regardless.

Posted by Jessica on August 18, 2008 @ 8:14 am

Jones had no problem racing Hard Spun on Polytrack, which was vilified following last year’s Del Mar meeting.

Posted by EJXD2 on August 18, 2008 @ 8:39 am

I think that the difference is that no US track has used Pro-Ride and no one has any idea of what it’s going to be like. Trainers/horses at least had a chance to train for a while or race on Polytrack, which they don’t have much of a chance to do on Pro-Ride. I don’t blame them, and anything that reduces the significance of the Breeders’ Cup races (no matter the surface on which they’re raced) is fine by me.

Posted by Teresa on August 18, 2008 @ 9:08 am

While ducking the synthetics is an excuse, in this day and age it is a legitimate one. With the money involved in breeding rights and sales and the number of races horses actually run now, owners are less willing to “risk” their “commodity” on one bad day.
If a horse does not take to the track and runs a clunker, there remain few if any chances for that horse to get a rematch on another day. Horses have careers in the single digits and you are not going to risk the “off day” when it could hurt you in the sales ring.
After all, it’s not like they are breeding the horses to actually run…

Posted by winston on August 18, 2008 @ 9:12 am

That’ll be the issue for most deciding whether or not to run in the BC, won’t it? Throw a clunker, lose value, but at the same time, winning a BC race adds so much breeding value plenty will be tempted. So Curlin, who can only decline in value/reputation by losing over synthetic and won’t add much by winning, probably won’t go, but Frost Giant, who will lose little if he doesn’t win and could really bolster his stud value if he does, will show up. Seems like less of an issue on the distaff side, though, even if Proud Spell doesn’t go, and I’m curious to see how this all shakes out come Eclipse season …

Posted by Jessica on August 18, 2008 @ 9:26 am

I think what you’re all saying is true regardless of the surface. Curlin just by stepping on the track in 2008 could only decrease his value/reputation. I haven’t really seen anything from Curlin’s flawless year that has increased his value. Horses don’t fire on dirt just the same.
Would have to disagree with Music Note and Proud Spell being able to run with Ginger Punch and Hysterical Lady. I hold last year’s 3YO fillies in higher regard than this year’s…if a horse like Octave couldn’t beat either of those two, how would Music Note or Proud Spell? Cleary Octave wasn’t even the best of that crop.
That and I don’t think any distaff runner, Zenyatta included, would have touched Hysterical Lady in her last. She probably would have dusted some of the best that the boys had to offer that day.
Think Zenyatta is setting up for a huge bet against. A full field in the distaff and a higher level of competition would have me playing against her late run on a typically playing, closer friendly synth surface or not.

Posted by o_crunk on August 18, 2008 @ 10:24 am