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Originally Posted by Spalding No!
Saratoga/NYRA needs to look at dumping the Curlin or re-scheduling it to post-Travers.
The Jim Dandy is already in direct conflict with the Haskell. And while the intent of the Curlin is to provide opportunity for up-and-comers, the fact of the matter is that horses are so lightly campaigned nowadays that a relatively "established" horse like Hofburg is still eligible for it.
Simply not enough 3yos left after the carnage of the Triple Crown to support 3 different 3yo stakes on the same weekend in the same geographic area.
What's even more disappointing is that despite no real 3yo races on the main track to speak of in CA the rest of the year, the races this weekend drew but a single shipper (Core Beliefs).
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Honestly, I wish the rest of the country would just follow California's approach. We got rid of the Strub series (other than the Malibu) and don't schedule any 3 year old main track races from the summer on. But what we offer is plenty of opportunities for 3 year olds to face older horses.
And honestly, with so many 3 year olds retiring early, that's what should happen. In other words, instead of going in the direction you suggest, dump the Travers instead and double the purse of the Woodward. Even offer the 3 year olds a big weight break if it will help draw them.
That way we might at least get to see more 3 year olds face older handicap horses before they retire.
