Quote:
Originally Posted by classhandicapper
I think the fall of the Wood is related to the spacing between the preps in general and the rise of the Arkansas derby.
The main preps used to be the Wood, SA Derby, Blue Grass and Florida Derby.
The Arkansas Derby has risen and the Wood and Blue Grass have declined.
I think the damage to the Blue Grass was somewhat self inflicted. When KEE went synthetic the quality declined a lot and it hasn't made a full recovery.
The Wood used to draw some of the best horses that wintered in Florida and elsewhere in the east. But now that everyone wants more spacing, each of the very best horses is getting 1 or 2 fewer preps before the Derby. I think the quality of the Wood has suffered the most for that reason because without the shippers, the NY 3yo winter racing is not that good. A couple come, but not as many of the very best ones as before .
That could all change though. All it might take is for 1 or 2 to win and perceptions might change.
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I totally agree, great points. The Ny comparison and Keeneland has never come back from the synth years. On the east coast the best horses have showed up at the FLA Derby consistently for years now. An indication that this is true again . Horses that couldn’t cut it in the FOY shipped to Keeneland and ran like gang busters. I’m taking a long look at Maximum Security and Shugs horse. Because GP has been a good run up to this race. And Shug has gone this route before.
