For years, people have been complaining that horses who have enough graded stakes earnings, but have done poorly in prep races have been allowed to enter the Derby. Well Churchill has decided to change that with throwing out the system they have been using since the 1980's and implementing a point system instead. The Oaks will have a simlar system as well.
The point of this is to put more emphasis on races a mile or over then sprints which many of the 2yo graded stakes are. There are people angry that the G1 BC Juvenile now will be worth as much as the Smarty Jones a listed race at Oaklawn. But it's not as bad as the Royal Lodge at Newmarket which is a great race I may add being a points race while the IL Derby which hasn't had Derby success lately, but has more say into the Derby then an overseas race does isn't. From what I'm understanding, unrestricted stakes will be used as a tiebreaker. So in a way, GSE will still be a factor, just not as much.
What people are also complaining about is that Filly only races will only count for the Oaks, but if they face open company then the points will count for both races. Some may say it's not fair to those who are thinking Derby without going the most adventurous rote. On the other hand though the three Derby winners who are female (Regret, Genuine Risk and Winning Colors) had previously faced males in races before their race at Churchill. The two recent fillies who would have been left out if points where implemented when they ran are 2008 runner up Eight Belles, Three Ring, Excellent Meeting, and Devil May Care (Serena's Song had won the Spiral and very likely had locked herself into the field as her Filly only points would have counted for the Derby along with the Oaks). I think they want fillies to prove themselves that they can handle open company before going to the Derby. If not, then they have the Oaks to fall back onto. Also, the AE list will still be in effect for both races.
The biggest question is this. Will the trainers like this. As of right now, the response has been mainly negative.
As for me and how I feel about it? It certainly has it's flaws, but I really like that all the point races are a mile or more. Looking at this year's field, according DRF Trinniberg (who did all of his prep work sprinting) would have been the AE and My Adonis (a router) who was the AE would be in the field. Also Bodemeister, Dullahan and I'll Have Another would be 3 of the Top 4 (only Gemologist who ended up track crashed their party). This will limit the amount of horses like Trinniberg into the race. Sure you'll see horses who don't belong, but it's the Derby. Happens almost every year.
This will take some time getting used to, and hopefully for 2014 there will be some tweeks to get things more satisfying to trainers, owners and fans content.
This will take some time getting used to, and hopefully for 2014 there will be some tweeks to get things more satisfying to trainers, owners and fans content.
