''Big Cap'' Conditions

[Southieboy]

Here are the conditions of this year's Big Cap:

A HANDICAP FOR FOUR-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. $3,750 to pass the entry box and $7,500 to start with $750,000 guaranteed, of which $450,000 to first, $150,000 to second, $90,000 to third, $45,000 to fourth and $15,000 to fifth. Weights Saturday, February 26. Starters to be named through the entry box by the closing time of entries. Preference shall be given to the high weights based upon the weight assignments. Total earnings in 2011 will be used in determining the preference of horses with equally assigned weights. No horse will assigned more than 126 lbs. Trophy will be presented to the winning owner.

[GaryG]

Have you seen a handicap with the high weight 126 or more recently? What is your point?

[NTamm1215]

Who should have been weighted at more than 126?

No one, so this is a non-issue and just the umpteenth instance of someone bitching about something dumb.

[andtheyreoff]

Who should have been weighted at more than 126?

No one, so this is a non-issue and just the umpteenth instance of someone bitching about something dumb.

He had to make sure there was another thread criticizing Santa Anita for something. I don't think there was one on the front page today until now.

[cj]

While it won't matter this year, it sets a pretty poor precedent. Why even bother having handicaps any longer?

[FenceBored]

Have you seen a handicap with the high weight 126 or more recently? What is your point?

Off the top of my head?

Curlin - 2008 Stephen Foster (128)
Zenyatta - 2009 Vanity (129)
Zenyatta - 2010 Vanity (129)

[FenceBored]

Off the top of my head?

Curlin - 2008 Stephen Foster (128)
Zenyatta - 2009 Vanity (129)
Zenyatta - 2010 Vanity (129)

Oops, almost forgot one:

Zenyatta - 2010 Santa Margarita (127)

[Java Gold@TFT]

Off the top of my head?

Curlin - 2008 Stephen Foster (128)
Zenyatta - 2009 Vanity (129)
Zenyatta - 2010 Vanity (129)
Great example of the "Handicap" races left. Zenyatta carries 129 in the 2009 Vanity then goes on a bender of 6 straight G-I's including the BC Classic so in 2010 the racing secretary found that she did nothhing to carry even 1 pound more. 130 is a magic number that can't be crossed. Or in the case of the Big Cap 126 is something only 3yo's in TC races should be forced to shoulder.

[Tom]

Off the top of my head?

Curlin - 2008 Stephen Foster (128)
Zenyatta - 2009 Vanity (129)
Zenyatta - 2010 Vanity (129)

Yes, only the best ever horses carry that much weight. :cool:

[DJofSD]

What is the scale of weights for four year olds?

If those other horses carried more weight then they probably were older than 4 years old.

[FenceBored]

While it won't matter this year, it sets a pretty poor precedent. Why even bother having handicaps any longer?

Don't worry, we'll be there soon.
"The Big Cap, we're talking, uh um, Twirling Candy's going to be the star of that show going in. He'll definitely be the highweight. And with the division kind of down all around we're uh, you know we're looking to get 10 in there, with (like I said) Twirling Candy going to be the highweight there without a doubt with the weights will come out this weekend. Actually one of the few Handicaps we have left here at Santa Anita, so we'll have to dust off the pencil and, you know, throw some weights on these horses.
-- Rick Hammerlie on At the Races with Steve Byk, Feb. 25th Hour 3, starting at 7:27 (http://thoroughbredracingradionetwork.com/images/stories/audio/022511c.mp3).

[joanied]

Despite the thing about weights, looks like it'll be a good race...we'll never have the handicaps we used to back in the day...
Twirling Candy may have his work cut out with Baffert sending in 4 to go against...
and since I'm a fan of the bridesmaid colt, First Dude, and he just worked fantastic for Baffert...I'm looking to upset the favorite and see First Dude finally win a race:jump: ...I just want to see who Baffert gets to ride him...I'd really like to see Garrett Gomez give him a try...it's obvious he needs a very strong finish rider....like Gomez!