Questions about Keeneland

[tholl]

First -- How come after all this time of not running them, Keeneland is carding maidens on the turf this meet?

Second -- Where are Asmussen's two-year-olds?

[point given]

guessing

1 Lack of horses

2 Asmussen knows Ward targets 2yo races at keeneland and wants to avoid him so he waits for CD ehe shipped 50 to Cali to run there so maybe some are 2's.

[Grits]

There have been only two maiden races run for two year olds in the first three days of the meet. There are none Wednesday. There's one on Thursday. There's one on Friday.

The first three days of the meet Asmussen had entered two horses on the poly, neither were maiden 2 year olds. He had horses entered on turf which is rare. One was nosed out for the win in the Transylvania by Shug's horse.

He has one entered on poly today, only one entered on it Thursday, and no horses entered on Friday.

This may not be a matter of ducking Ward.

This may be more a matter of he doesn't like poly any better today than he liked it yesterday, last month, or last year.

[pktruckdriver]

There have been only two maiden races run for two year olds in the first three days of the meet. There are none Wednesday. There's one on Thursday. There's one on Friday.

The first three days of the meet Asmussen had entered two horses on the poly, neither were maiden 2 year olds. He had horses entered on turf which is rare. One was nosed out for the win in the Transylvania by Shug's horse.

He has one entered on poly today, only one entered on it Thursday, and no horses entered on Friday.

This may not be a matter of ducking Ward.

This may be more a matter of he doesn't like poly any better today than he liked it yesterday, last month, or last year.


I believe it is the Poly that is keeping him away, except for the Stakes Races he can not avoid all together.

Steve I am sure never runs from a Trainer , come on.

Patrick

[Tom]

I guess poly is no longer on anyone's agenda if they have good horse's with promise on dirt. Horses with limited ability ( poly-specialists) will flock there, but why take a good dirt horse there?

[Robert Fischer]

I guess poly is no longer on anyone's agenda if they have good horse's with promise on dirt. Horses with limited ability ( poly-specialists) will flock there, but why take a good dirt horse there?

The polytrack at Keeneland is certainly part of some owners, trainers and breeders agenda. The meet continues to be of relatively good quality Kentucky racing.

The all-weather polytrack is a welcome chance for good dirt horses that have some stamina and some good turf influences in their pedigree, as well as good turf horses with both of these types running looking for the fairly good purse opportunities that Keeneland offers.

Obviously elite dirt horses that figure to love the traditional large-market dirt courses will be pointed towards the stakes programs at other tracks, and dirt sprinters with suspect stamina and no turf influences will not be entered at Keeneland if the connections can help it.

The idea that "limited ability" horses will be specialists in the higher purse races offered is not very logical. "Poly specialists" often have characteristics in common with turf horses and at Keeneland just some of the dominant types are either good Early pace turf types or versatile types with a big gear and powerful turn of foot.

[Hoofless_Wonder]

With all the bad press that polytracks get from the players (and I'm not a big fan either), it still gives me pause that Keeneland installed it. Keeneland is the only track in NA which I believe puts the interest of the horses first, so it makes me wonder if there are some real advantages for it over dirt.

To be honest, I don't miss the dirt track that Keeneland once had, as it was so speed favoring it made a lot of races unplayable. At least now I can throw a dart at the wall like everybody else when it comes to the poly races. Which gives me more time to look at the turf events, maidens and all....

[stu]

With the discontinuation of the Kentucky Juvenile stake (formerly WHAS) on Derby week, the first 2yo stakes in Kentucky move out to the Debutante (6/25/11) and Bashford Manor (7/2/11), there may no longer be any urgency for Steve Asmussen or anybody else to have their babies cranked up this early.

[Valuist]

With all the bad press that polytracks get from the players (and I'm not a big fan either), it still gives me pause that Keeneland installed it. Keeneland is the only track in NA which I believe puts the interest of the horses first, so it makes me wonder if there are some real advantages for it over dirt.

To be honest, I don't miss the dirt track that Keeneland once had, as it was so speed favoring it made a lot of races unplayable. At least now I can throw a dart at the wall like everybody else when it comes to the poly races. Which gives me more time to look at the turf events, maidens and all....

Is it because their so-called interest in the welfare of the horse? Or the fact they are a co-owner of the Polytrack product itself?

[ManeMediaMogul]

There is no doubt that the Polytrack at Keeneland is kinder to horses than their old track. I have been a daily visitor for the last 11 years and I can witness that fact.

It is true that Keeneland owns part of the Polytrack company, but the safety of horses and riders is paramount there. Kentucky breeders do not want to see their foals catostrophically destroyed by unsafe surfaces and since those breeders are Keeneland's best customers, they are looking after themselves too.

All the bullshit about Polytrack and dirt is unfounded in my opinion. Dirt tracks differ much more in composition and performance than the so called "artificial" surfaces do. Dirt tracks are all different - Oaklawn Park does not resemble Belmont Park in any way, shape or form. Santa Anita and Aqueduct are not remotely the same surfaces. Emerald Downs and Tampa Bay are not even close although they are both so called, "dirt."

[point given]

With the discontinuation of the Kentucky Juvenile stake (formerly WHAS) on Derby week, the first 2yo stakes in Kentucky move out to the Debutante (6/25/11) and Bashford Manor (7/2/11), there may no longer be any urgency for Steve Asmussen or anybody else to have their babies cranked up this early.

Good point about delaying their starts until the 2 yo stakes come along.I do think SA is wating for CD to open to start em up. Ward has already won some 2yo races at Woodbine when they opened too.

[BobD]

In reviewing the results of the Blue Grass on Saturday, does anyone believe that the split times could be wrong?

It looks like the winner had something like a 46% EE%.