Watchmaker Watch - May 31

[NTamm1215]

http://www.drf.com/news/watchmaker-w...sional-ratings

I know that holding Mike Watchmaker to any type of high standard is an exercise in futility but he's really outdone himself this week. This is his list for older males. Now, I understand this is a tough division to make rankings for, but this list is mind boggling.

1 - Crown of Thorns
2 - Sidney's Candy
3 - First Dude
4 - Twirling Candy
5 - Giant Oak (7)
6 - Regal Ransom (8)
7 - Apart (10)
8 - Mission Impazible (9)
9 - Tizway (new)
10 - Game On Dude (5)

It must be that he held the Alysheba on Oaks day in very high esteem. Despite losing the race and being winless for the year, Regal Ransom is ranked 6th overall. Little did we know Pat Cummings wasn't the only one drinking the Godolphin powder blue kool-aid. Apart, who is an absolute bum, is ranked 7th off of his stirring win in the William Donald Schaefer. Does it matter that Apart had previously been defeated three times in 2011, including losses at the hands of superstars like Recapturetheglory and Demarcation? Not to Watchmaker.

Mission Impazible is 1-4 on the year and outside of Fair Grounds he has a very average 2nd to Caixa Eletronica and a handy defeat as the favorite in the Alysheba. Where's he ranked? That's right, ahead of Met Mile winner Tizway and SA Handicap winner Game on Dude. Sure, Game on Dude didn't run particularly well in the LS Handicap yesterday but he has to be shown a bit more respect than two horses who are a combined 1-6 on the year.

We are also led to believe that the Mervyn LeRoy was by far and away the best handicap race of the year so far. While the entire racing world was watching Churchill Downs this incredible race happened at Hollywood Park over the Cushion Track. Now that Sidney's Candy has been defeated since, Watchmaker's assertion is that he just may be a main track horse.

These are his ranking for the F/M Turf division:

1 - Aviate
2 - Aruna
3 - Wasted Tears (4)
4 - Shared Account (3)
5 - Dubawi Heights (new)
6 - Keertana (new)
7 - Hibaayeb (new)
8 - Fantasia (5)
9 - Never Retreat (6)
10 - Changing Skies (9)

So, Keertana absolutely crushes the Bewitch then defeats males in the Louisville Handicap and can't even get ahead of a mare who won one of the weakest GI races in years (Gamely)? Better yet, Denomination picked up her 2nd graded stake win of the year yesterday and defeated Keertana in March at Tampa and she can't even get a piece of the top ten over a horse who hasn't started since February and ran 5th in her last start (Changing Skies)?

Why wouldn't he also have Aikenite ahead of Morning Line and Apriority? Aikenite and Apriority are 1-1 head to head with Aikenite's win by a nostril. I guess it was that scintillating Commonwealth win over Wise Dan, who has been disastrously bad in 2 starts this year.

These rankings are difficult to make, I'm sure, but he has to try to take them seriously at some point.

[parsixfarms]

The list for 3YO fillies is also amusing. Putting aside where he lists multiple Grade I winner Turbulent Descent, I don't know how one can list Royal Delta as the (active) leader of the division. Don't get me wrong, I like the filly, but it's hard to make her the divisional leader off her perfect trip win in a decidedly mediocre edition of the Black Eyed Susan (where Buster's Ready arguably ran better).

[Clip-Clop]

Nick,
Where would you put Harve de Grace in that top ten males list given the chance?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Clip-Clop

Nick,
Where would you put Harve de Grace in that top ten males list given the chance?

I want to see her run outside of the Larry Jones havens (Del/OP) one time this year to make a full assessment but I'm 100% confident she would have won the Oaklawn Handicap this year.

I think, all in all, she would compete favorably with males just about anywhere.

[cakes44]

I understand the there isn't much talent around, but that top-10 group of older males is also about the least game group I've ever seen. Plenty of faint hearts to go around.