Looks like we have a few vulnerable favorites tomorrow at GP

[Michael D.]

ajkreider Wrote:
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> Those stats are right, of course - but a bit
> misleading.  One thing Stronach did was move up
> the date of the FD so that it could be a final
> prep.  Recall that Monarchos won the FD, and then
> went on to the wood, which was a pretty common
> transition.  So, most of the Gulf runners would
> have at least one out of state prep before the
> derby - at least until recently.
>
> The move has probably increased the profile of the
> FD, with Barbaro, Big Brown, and Quality Road
> being favored or close to it, going in to the
> Derby off a win there.  Might well continue with
> Eskendereya this year.  Don\'t like the 6 weeks,
> though.


Thanks for the response.

Not misleading at all. The point being that when the Fla Derby was not the final prep, other preps had huge roles. Florida was not where all the meaningful preps took place. That\'s all.

[FrankD.]

M.D.

I\'ll definitely take back the \" all \" !!!
This was not meant to be an arguement.

My point was just in response to Richie\'s post of remembering the alternating 40 day race meets that Hialeah & Gulfstream ran for many years prior to 83 or 84. As Hialeah\'s area declined the last 2 or 3 years the prime early dates were awarded to Gulfstream as opposed to alternating. For many years Hialeah ahd those dates exclusively back in the day !

One would run the first week of January until the first week of March. The other from the first week in March into May. So one year the Florida Derby was in February, the next in late March or the first week of April and visa versa with the Flamingo.

During that time the prime first 40 day meet was as good as any meet in the country. Most serious 3 year olds started their campaigns there. You looked for the winner of the Hopeful or Champagne to run in the Hutchinson or Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream or the Bahamas or Everglades at Hialeah.

Of course many used the Wood or Bluegrass as there final tune up for the first Saturday in May. Let\'s not forget that conventional training method of that time being 3-5 preps before the Derby as opposed to less these days ?