KY Derby Point System

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

I suppose they could try and say something like "you can't compare this system with past years, because the connections of the horses in past years would have planned differently and got the points"

But, in many cases, that is simply 100% not true.

War Emblem tried the Fairgrounds route -- He was dusted in the Risen Star. They had abandoned any Derby hopes for him and took him home for the Illi Derby. Even after he destroyed Repent and ran a 112 Beyer in the ILLI Derby -- his connections weren't going to run him in the Derby. Baffert came in and bought him. War Emblem (A Derby, Preakness, and Haskell winner) would never have qualified. He had 0 points and nothing about his prep schedule would have changed.

Lukas rushed Proud Citizen back for a bid at the Derby. PC ran 7th in the SA Derby. He wasn't in a position where he could have done anything different.

Even if you say 'well, connections would have just planned different' -- ah no, third place finisher Perfect Drift is the Kentucky Derby winner in 2002.

Nope, Drift would have finished 3rd to two others. Its what the Drift did best.
All/ All/ Drift

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

Nope, Drift would have finished 3rd to two others. Its what the Drift did best.
All/ All/ Drift

Not until much later on.

Perfect Drift was a killer at ages 3 and 4.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

They could have just tweaked the graded earnings system by discounting the 2yo and filly races, and we could have a better system.

First of all -- who are all of the fillies who have raced in the Kentucky Derby that didn't belong?

Here is a list of every filly to race in the Derby since 1945:

2010 Devil May Care
2008 Eight Belles
1999 Excellent Meeting
1999 Three Ring
1995 Serena's Song
1988 Winning Colors
1984 Life's Magic
1984 Althea
1982 Cupecoy's Joy
1980 Genuine Risk
1959 Silver Spoon

That's a pretty outstanding collection right there. 2 of the 11 even won the race.

But, I know, My Adonis needs and deserves to be in the starting gate -- over these undeserving fillies.

And Grade 1 two-year-old route racing is more interesting and often more truly run races than the Derby preps. A lot of top 2-year-olds don't come back to form at age 3, but it's often because of physical setbacks and they rarely make the Derby -- and when they do -- they're virtually never taking the spot of a better horse.

You're basically just eliminating horses like Birdstone and Lemon Drop Kid who were outstanding Grade 1 winning 2yo routers -- but had a few minor setbacks and performed poorly in the Derby preps. Is My Adonis more deserving because he clunked up for 3rd in the Holy Bull and 2nd Gotham and 4th in the Wood Memorial?