Three new Breeders’ Cup carrying a purse of $1m each have been added and will be run Friday to create a two day event like the Oaks and Derby. Overall, I am indifferent to two of them and against the third. I have no real opinion on adding the Dirt Mile and F&M Sprint. While I don’t like watering down the BC by creating more divisions (I think it is a good to see a top sprinting mare take on the boys), I can see the justification for these two races. There are 55 Graded Stakes similar to the Dirt Mile including 7 Grade I races. Likewise, there are 49 Grades Stakes similar to the F&M Sprint including 9 Grade I races. The Juvenile Turf makes no sense at all, unless the BC wants to create more domestic competition in this division and attract top Europeans. Right now there are only 2 Grade III stakes scheduled for 2yos on the turf and one of these is for fillies. Do we really want to encourage turf racing for 2yos? In the U.S. the goal of top juveniles is the Triple Crown and outside of a few minor turf races, they compete on the dirt through the spring of their 3yo year. Due to the advent of the Juvenile Turf, we will see an increase in specialization of races horses, now starting from the beginning of their racing career. There will be new turf stakes for Juveniles created and some of the traditional dirt 2yo races will be moved to the turf. Future Barbaros might have spend their careers on the turf – is this what we want?

I would have liked one of the races to be for dirt stayers over 2 miles (like the Jockey Club Gold Cup in years past). This would lead to the revival of Cup races and put more emphasis on stamina in the breed. A race like this is only slightly less ridiculous than a Juvenile Turf race.

Here are the additions and corresponding Graded Stakes races

Dirt Mile for 3yo and up at 8f

Open races at similar distances (35 Graded Stakes)

2 Grade I races at 8f: Metropolitan Mile (Bel), Cigar Mile (Aqu)

3 Grade I races at 7f: Carter (Aqu), Forego (Sar), Triple Bend (Hol)

7 Grade II races at 7f

4 Grade II races at 8.5f

7 Grade III races at 8f

2 Grade III races at 7f

1 Grade III race at 7.5f

9 Grade III races at 8.5f

Races restricted to 3yo at similar distances (28 Graded Stakes)

2 Grade I races at 7f: King’s Bishop (Sar), Malibu (SA)

2 Grade II races at 8f

1 Grade II race at 7.5f

3 Grade II races at 7f

6 Grade II races at 8.5f

2 Grade III races at 8f

3 Grade III races at 7f

9 Grade II races at 8.5f

Filly and Mare Sprint for 3yo and up f&m at 7f

Races for f&m at similar distances (28 Graded Stakes)

3 Grade I races at 7f: Ballerina (Sar), CD Distaff (CD), Santa Monica (SA)

1 Grade I race at 6f: Princess Rooney (Crc)

6 Grade II races at 7f

3 Grade II races at 6f

2 Grade II races at 6.5f

3 Grade II races at 8f

1 Grade III race at 7f

6 Grade III races at 6f

2 Grade III races at 6.5f

1 Grade III race at 8f

Races restricted to 3yo fillies at similar distances (21 Graded Stakes)

1 Grade I race at 6f: Prioress (Bel)

2 Grade I races at 7f: Test (Sar), La Brea (SA)

2 Grade I races at 8f: Acorn (Bel), La Virgenes (SA)

5 Grade II races at 7f

1 Grade II race at 8f

1 Grade III race at 7f

4 Grade III races at 6f

2 Grade III races at 6.5f

1 Grade III race at 7.5f

2 Grade III races at 8f

Juvenile Turf for 2yo at 8f on the turf

1 Grade III race for 2yo

1 Grade III race for 2yof