Quote:
Originally Posted by GMB@BP
was talking about the full BC card I believe, not the single race.
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That might make the comment worse.
Never mind comparing to monster years like 1988 (Alysheba, Gulch, Miesque, Open Mind, Easy Goer, Personal Ensign, Winning Colors, etc.) or 1989 (Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, Bayakoa, Go For Wand, Steinlen, Safely Kept, Grand Canyon, Prized, etc.) or 2001 (Tiznow, Sakhee, Galileo, Fantastic Light, Val Royal, Banks Hill, Johanessburg, Tempera, Xtra Heat, etc.), just look at the divisions as a whole and the horses that are missing from this season:
The older horse division is led by horses that were also-rans last year (Improbable, Tom's d'Etat, By My Standards) and a horse (Maximum Security) who is barely holding onto his world beater status (by beating Midcourt) after his original trainer was indicted (and his current trainer doesn't appear to be far behind).
Turf division also ruled by also-rans (Channel Maker, United, Arklow). The Euros send second stringers and a freshly beaten Magical (who really was a second stringer, too, until she starting avoiding Enable).
Distaff division a joke all year outside Midnight Bisou, and she's newly retired.
The 3yo division absolutely decimated (mostly thanks to Baffert). A once dominant Tiz the Law suddenly back down to earth; Authentic lingering with unconvincing stamina.
The turf mile is an embarrassment; a second string Euro Circus Maximus and a couple of Guineas winners who didn't train on (Kameko and Siskin). An 7yo ex-claimer mare who hits hard at the Grade 2 level at best is the story of the race.
The Dirt Mile has War of Will, who's race record has been absolutely trashed by his trainer.
The turf females feature a couple Chad Brown mares trying to relive their glory days (Uni, Sistercharlie).
The 2yo races as always look competitive. Neither of the favorites in the colts race (Jackie's Warrior, Essential Quality) appears able to run in a straight line.
Who's missing:
Midnight Bisou
McKinzie
Honor A.P.
Code of Honor
Maxfield
the horse that was like Mitole but was grey and was only good for a few minutes
every 3yo in Baffert's barn aside from Authentic
Not exactly murderer's row, but their absences don't help the proceedings.
Basically in terms trying to put a stamp a championship campaign, in the entire BC you have only Swiss Skydiver, Rushing Fall, and maybe Vekoma and Improbable to look forward, too.
