2025 Kentucky Derby

[Flanders]

Too early? Well let's talk about what CDI is doing at Colonial Downs. They are moving the Virginia Derby to the dirt and running it on March 15th. Given its a 50 point race, its pretty much a guaranteed spot in the starting gate. The news segment I saw said it was just a win and you're in but its technically not.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... by-in-2025

[Izvestia]

Meh.

I like the turf version better.

[stark]

I'll take Baffert, thanks in advance.

[Curtis]

Meh.

I like the turf version better.

I believe it will still be contested, just under a different name.

[Flanders]

Besides the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks being added to their respective point series. The UAE Derby has been removed from the US Road to the Derby and added to the European - Middle East Series. This series will now offer 2 spots in the starting gate. The Cardinal Condition Stakes has been removed from the EU/Middle East series and will generate an invite to the American Turf S(G2). No changes to the Japan Road to the Derby.

Stakes will be penalized point wise for not having enough entries. A 5 horse field will only get 75% of the points. A 4 or less horse field will be 50% of the points.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... y-for-2025

[stark]

Besides the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks being added to their respective point series. The UAE Derby has been removed from the US Road to the Derby and added to the European - Middle East Series. This series will now offer 2 spots in the starting gate. The Cardinal Condition Stakes has been removed from the EU/Middle East series and will generate an invite to the American Turf S(G2). No changes to the Japan Road to the Derby.

Stakes will be penalized point wise for not having enough entries. A 5 horse field will only get 75% of the points. A 4 or less horse field will be 50% of the points.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... y-for-2025

Still digesting but not sure I like the rule change with regards to the small fields. If I've got a horse and we're pointing to a 50 point race, and we're ready to run and only 4 others show up, that's not really my fault, why should I get only 75% of the originally scheduled points? Could be any sort of reasons, others are afraid of me, the track came up muddy, there's more money being offered elsewhere. Hmmmm? What if it's a 6 horse field but 3 of 'em come from the same barn? Geesh, I've got a headache.

[Izvestia]

California better start filling races.

[Northport]

Does this mean the Avengers add a couple more colts to their orders next week at KEESEPT? The races arent going to fill themselves, I could kind of see them buying some “cheaper” (less than $300,000) horses to bolster numbers.

Coolmore throws in lesser horses now and then to ensure fields of 8 so that each way betting can take place (usually in the Irish Derby). Would the Avengers keep an extra 2-3 horses around to make sure the first stringers get the maximum available points?

Rich people problems.

[Curtis]

California better start filling races.

If Baffert or O’Neill or Sadler, etc. has the big horse this next year and it’s an issue, they’ll just throw in a couple of no hopers in to get the race over the minimum. I’m sure it’s what CDI has in mind.

[Curtis]

Does this mean the Avengers add a couple more colts to their orders next week at KEESEPT? The races arent going to fill themselves, I could kind of see them buying some “cheaper” (less than $300,000) horses to bolster numbers.

Coolmore throws in lesser horses now and then to ensure fields of 8 so that each way betting can take place (usually in the Irish Derby). Would the Avengers keep an extra 2-3 horses around to make sure the first stringers get the maximum available points?

Rich people problems.

Bingo……..but it makes for better racing in an Evil Empire kinda way.

[tachyon]

Besides the Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks being added to their respective point series. The UAE Derby has been removed from the US Road to the Derby and added to the European - Middle East Series. This series will now offer 2 spots in the starting gate. The Cardinal Condition Stakes has been removed from the EU/Middle East series and will generate an invite to the American Turf S(G2). No changes to the Japan Road to the Derby.

Stakes will be penalized point wise for not having enough entries. A 5 horse field will only get 75% of the points. A 4 or less horse field will be 50% of the points.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... y-for-2025

It's a bit shame that the G3 Saudi Derby was not added to the European - Middle East Series.

[Izvestia]

California better start filling races.

If Baffert or O’Neill or Sadler, etc. has the big horse this next year and it’s an issue, they’ll just throw in a couple of no hopers in to get the race over the minimum. I’m sure it’s what CDI has in mind.

That’s exactly what will happen. Hopefully the “other” wins!

[stark]

California better start filling races.

If Baffert or O’Neill or Sadler, etc. has the big horse this next year and it’s an issue, they’ll just throw in a couple of no hopers in to get the race over the minimum. I’m sure it’s what CDI has in mind.

That’s exactly what will happen. Hopefully the “other” wins!

In our lifetimes, will CD ever surrender and give up on the idea of punishing Baffert? They know no bounds.

[Curtis]

If Baffert or O’Neill or Sadler, etc. has the big horse this next year and it’s an issue, they’ll just throw in a couple of no hopers in to get the race over the minimum. I’m sure it’s what CDI has in mind.

That’s exactly what will happen. Hopefully the “other” wins!

In our lifetimes, will CD ever surrender and give up on the idea of punishing Baffert? They know no bounds.

For how many years have we been subjected to this old fashioned urination competition? Given the age of the participants and the size of their prostates, the 4 horse fields in CA are much more interesting. I’m expecting to see a Pegram debut with the name Petered Out, any day now.

[stark]

That’s exactly what will happen. Hopefully the “other” wins!

In our lifetimes, will CD ever surrender and give up on the idea of punishing Baffert? They know no bounds.

For how many years have we been subjected to this old fashioned urination competition? Given the age of the participants and the size of their prostates, the 4 horse fields in CA are much more interesting. I’m expecting to see a Pegram debut with the name Petered Out, any day now.

Guess we need somebody like Barry Abrams who was always happy to enter for a shot at 3rd place money.

[CoronadosQuest]

California better start filling races.

I was just wondering if this was some weird way to penalize Baffert but still allow him in

[Curtis]

In our lifetimes, will CD ever surrender and give up on the idea of punishing Baffert? They know no bounds.

For how many years have we been subjected to this old fashioned urination competition? Given the age of the participants and the size of their prostates, the 4 horse fields in CA are much more interesting. I’m expecting to see a Pegram debut with the name Petered Out, any day now.

Guess we need somebody like Barry Abrams who was always happy to enter for a shot at 3rd place money.

The problem is, 3yo colts are like teenage boys. When I taught HS it was comical. The incoming Freshmen boys were geeky looking little guys with the maturity and attention span of a toddler and a voice like a soprano. The girls wouldn’t give them the time of day. Then one summer during their tenure, they would grow a foot, the voices would deepen, though far from full maturity, they started acting more like………people. So you never know when those 3yo colts are going to figure it out. Since it’s all about earning points, running against 3 Bafferts, a Sadler and a couple of O’Neills isn’t so enticing. Even Doug ships out to easier spots.

[CoronadosQuest]

Baffert has a couple of really nice colts already though I personally think that Getaway Car looks more like a sprinter/miler vs a derby horse but Ive been wrong before

[Curtis]

Baffert has a couple of really nice colts already though I personally think that Getaway Car looks more like a sprinter/miler vs a derby horse but Ive been wrong before

He does throw off a Roadster vibe. I always wondered if he had just concentrated on 6.5-8f with him—especially 1 turn 8f races, if he would have had a more productive career. Baffert seemed to figure that out with Cezanne.

[Flanders]

The thing I find odd is they added the point penalty for short fields, then changed the Virginia Derby to take away horses from other fields. And it will unless its full of horses that have no business running in a Derby prep. They put it at an odd time, the middle of March, between the other 50 point races at the end of February/first weekend in March and the 100 point races at the end of March/beginning of April. So unless the horses are running back on 2 or 3 weeks rest, they aren't likely to be racing in any of those other races.

It would be kind of funny if the only race that got its points penalized was one of CDI's own.