In the old days they used to run ANW1, ANW2, ANW3, an occasional ANW4, and ACL. Then above that were the stakes races. These days they run ANW1, ANW2, and then overnight stakes. I think that has more or less narrowed the gap between solid ALW horses and those non graded and grade 3 races, but also left some of the weaker ALW winners with nowhere to run after they win their ANW2 unless they drop in for a cheaper tag than they may want to run for. This is more or less a way of sticking another condition between ANW2 and the overnight stakes but without the conditions that might make it tougher to fill the races. I’m not sure if it will work, but if it does they should probably consider doing the same thing for state breds even though it’s less of an issue. Typically the state breds have to go into state bred stakes after they win ANW2S, but they can also try open ANW1 if the state bred stakes horses are especially salty.
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