Comments on Brooklyn Backstretch: How the dirt horses did

Yes, Sid, what you said was true. I only expanded ...

2009-11-09T23:46:05.875-05:00

Yes, Sid, what you said was true. I only expanded on the information you gave to make it more accurate.

Handicapping is about the little things.

But you know that.

Teresa, yes, agreed. It's obvious that they are a ...

2009-11-09T21:42:35.045-05:00

Teresa, yes, agreed. It's obvious that they are a "third" surface.

As for the anonymous poster, I noted that Informed Decision was undefeated on synyhetics, but I also noted the fact -- not my interpretation of the fact -- that she is a G1 winner on dirt.

Again, as for Zenyatta, no mention -- except from you -- that the dirt race was her best race -- just the

One of the differences, Sid, in considering synthe...

2009-11-08T21:57:37.297-05:00

One of the differences, Sid, in considering synthetics vs. turf is that turf is considered a wholly separate entity from dirt. Synthetics aren't--they were meant to be a substitute for it, and I think it's clear now that they need to be considered a division unto themselves.

Anon: I am not enough of a handicapper to respond to what you say--let's hope someone else jumps in

Zenyatta is utterly fabulous and I'm as thrilled a...

2009-11-08T20:10:01.439-05:00

Zenyatta is utterly fabulous and I'm as thrilled as anyone with her win yesterday, but I wonder what the outcome of the Classic would have been had it been run on dirt.

Brooklyn Backstretch wrote: it would be folly to ...

2009-11-08T17:03:26.572-05:00

Brooklyn Backstretch wrote:

it would be folly to try to draw definitive conclusions from these results;

___________

Mark Cramer the excellent handicapping author once expounded that a small sample size can be just as valid - and has more wager value.

And I'd be willing to wager we do not need to run 100 or 200 Breeders Cup races on synthetic

While it is fine to refer to synthetics as a third...

2009-11-08T13:27:03.680-05:00

While it is fine to refer to synthetics as a third surface, what some seem to miss is that if you have two horses, one a dirt horse and the other a turf horse, I doubt any sane person would argue against the turf horse being FAR more likely to handle synthetics successfully.

As for the above post...Informed Decision is clearly better on synthetics and her Grade 1 win on dirt ( slop )

Just like with turf handicapping, looks like you h...

2009-11-08T12:48:34.298-05:00

Just like with turf handicapping, looks like you have to look for good synthetic form for all weather races, as most of the winners you noted had non-dirt form, except for two

1. Informed Decision is undefeated on all weather, yes, but is a G1 winner on dirt.

2. Zenyatta is plain undefeated, but also does have a G1 win on dirt to her credit.