T.H. Approval, winner of three major California distance turf stakes races this year, was retired after a sesamoid break which occurred in the Hollywood Turf Cup. The 5yo grey router won this year's San Juan Capistrano (a14f), Sunset Handicap (12f), and Del Mar Handicap (12f). T.H. Approval is a tough warrior and a good horse but a cut below the best American turf routers. California's stakes races have really fallen off in this category. The San Juan Capistrano was a Grade I stakes race from the inception of the grading system (1973) until 2003. The Sunset Handicap was Grade I until 1989. The Hollywood Turf Cup is the only Grade I distance test (12f) on the turf in the west and there are only two others in the U.S. apart from the BC (Sword Dancer at Saratoga and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont). No wonder the Euros are killing us in the BC Turf.

T.H. Approval and Lava Man are testaments to the low quality of racing this year in California. Both were dominant in state but are hardly talked about for Eclipse Awards. Lava Man should really get more consideration given his record of seven wins in eight starts and the fact that he won four Grade Is (on both the turf and dirt), a Grade II, and $1m restricted race. Unfortunately if you run poorly on Breeders' Cup day you are forgotten.