Super Saturday, or … Too Many Preps?

I was all prepared to write that there are simply too many prep races today. I was going to say, whether it is for the Kentucky Derby or the Breeders’ Cup, the proliferation of prep races, spread out over numerous racetracks, and all occurring at virtually the same time, is not for the overall good of the sport.

I was going to recall when the best horses used to run against each other on a regular basis. Outside of a few select days, it doesn’t happen like that anymore.

I was going to use the Beldame, Cotillion, and Lady’s Secret as an example of keeping top horses apart. Havre de Grace and Royal Delta are in New York. Blind Luck, Zazu, and Ask the Moon are in California. It’s Tricky, Plum Pretty, and Buster’s Ready are in Pennsylvania. What does that leave for the $200,000 Indiana Oaks, which is also taking place tomorrow? Arguably the eight best three-year-old and up fillies and mares, who run a distance of ground on the dirt, are all in action tomorrow … shouldn’t they be running against each other? Is what I was going to ask.

Can you imagine if those eight were in the same race? With Havre de Grace likely to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the field would be better than the Ladies’ Classic.

I was going to lament that there are too many races, too many tracks open at the same time, too long of a racing season at most places, too many rich races being run in opposition of each other, and probably too many racetracks period.

I was all prepared to discuss these things, but then I opened my form for tomorrow and saw the names Havre de Grace, Royal Delta, Shackleford, Caleb's Posse, It's Tricky, Plum Pretty, Buster’s Ready Blind Luck, Zazu, Ask the Moon, Game On Dude, Coil, Dubawi Heights, Drill, Creative Cause, Stay Thirsty, Flat Out, Cape Blanco, Stacelita, Uncle Mo, Jackson Bend, Big Drama, and Trappe Shot, and stopped myself. All are ready to run tomorrow and whether it is happening at four different places or not, a day of racing like this is worth enjoying.