Venue October 1st

[Real Quiet]

I need some input for our venue next Saturday. Belmont has 3 Grade 1's, a 2 and a 3. Santa Anita has 5 Grade 1's. If I had to choose it would be SA. The alternative is to do the 10 Graded races, 5 from each track. If you want to eliminate the Pilgrim from Belmont that's ok with me. I have no problem scoring the ROI from both tracks. It's up to Plenilune cause it's harder doing the points scoring because of the hit and miss race order. 7 of the races are BC preps. Any suggestions?

[RUFFIAN]

MEW MEW MEW
MY VOTE FOR YOU
SANTA ANITA ONLY ~

[JolyB]

An interesting dilemma you pose, RQ.

As you have said, the final call should be up to Plenilune since scoring the points contest is much more work when the races are split between two tracks.

Having said that, we have done all graded stakes cards before and I think they have worked out very well. Given the time until the BC, I would suppose that in each of these races there will be a number of horses making their final preps for their respective BC race, and I plan to pay attention to all of these races whether they are on our dance card or not. You had mentioned that 7 of these races are BC preps, but I think that there will be BC runners coming out of the Beldame and Gallant Bloom also, even though they are not "win and you're in" races. Even the Pilgrim usually gets a couple of runners who end up in the Juvie Turf.

If Plen gives you a go ahead and you do decide to go the all stakes route, I would recommend that the race order be set up to do all of the Belmont races in the order they appear on the card, followed by all of the SA races in similar order. I think that is less confusing than trying to set them up based on the time that they run.

That's my 2 cents' worth, and that's probably all that it's worth.

[DonGuido]

I always like a primer to the BC card (getting close) . . . ALL STAKES for me baby and make mine medium rare please!!! Plen is our server so I agree she helps RQ with the menu.

[swedejxn]

Don't know if I can play or will be on the road, but a vote for nuttin' but steaks comin' ur way from the 'bama coast.... LOL...

[Real Quiet]

If we decide to do all stakes, race 6 at Belmont only has 4 horses so it cannot be used in the points contest. However races 6 to 10 can be used in the ROI but only those 5 races. The Santa Anita entries are not up yet.

[Plenilune]

Ok, you know I am game. Make it an all stakes day. But I would drop Belmont's race 6 having only four horses entered.

And I like having a later post time. I have to be somewhere in the morning and you know I don't like having to post my picks before scratches are announced .