We will start looking forward to the new year of racing with this thread.

I ask if there are subjects that either folks prefer to emphasize vs. subjects you prefer to see less of.
I'm fine with doing less if it is taking up people's eyeball time.
I seem to get 50-60 clicks when I post something new; perhaps it is one or two of you re-reading 20 times.. I don't know.
There's only a few of you who interact. I'd like to hear a bit more from you to know what content I can provide or ignore.

Based on observation of the other more active threads, if Mandaloun had been named Mandalorian this would have drawn more interest.. or not.

On to the subject of more interest.

There are a number of 3YO races on Saturday January 1, 2022, only 3 of which are awarding KYD points (all of the 10-4-2-1 for the first 4 places):

At Aqueduct, is the Jerome Stakes:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...1/summary.html
[URL above, Saturday January 1, 2022, Aqueduct - Race 8, PPs]
Cooke Creek, Courvoisier, Mr. Jefferson, and Hagler look like the contenders. Cooke Creek was soundly beaten by Rockefeller in the Nashua, but Rockefeller is in another Saturday race and is not the favorite there, so that speaks to the apparent relative quality of this race.
Cooke Creek has shown the best, but Courvoisier has a big upgrade in jockey. The track might be off on Saturday. None of the favorites show any off-track lines, but Mr. Jefferson has Constitution as a sire and they have run well on the off-track. It is interesting that Todd Pletcher doesn't have a horse to enter this race at one of his home tracks.

At the Oaklawn Park is the Smarty Jones. Of course, Smarty Jones raced out of Pennsylvania, and stood stud in Pennsylvania, but name the race for him in Arkansas. Just like the Secretariat Stakes is/was at Arlington Park on turf in Illinois, his favorite place and surface, but I digress...
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[URL above, Saturday January 1, 2022, Oaklawn Park - Race 9, PPs]
All In Sync, Ben Diesel, and Home Brew should be favored in this full field of 14. These lightly raced horses are sure to create a lot of traffic. Dash Attack is an undefeated son of Munnings (who had a great year last year). All 3 of these horses will have above average jockeys on them. Kavod did 'eh' in a lot of stakes in the fall, was CLAIMED for $50k (plus allowances), but seems to have put it together and has won 2 straight races. This chestnut could have finally put it together for the new owners; he'll have to pick it up in the last quarter to be competitive. If Ben Diesel can work out a trip, I give him a chance.

At Santa Anita, is the race named for the horse that broke the Preakness speed/track record in 1973, except for the horse in front of him, the Sham Stakes:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[URL above, Saturday January 1, 2022, Santa Anita Park - Race 7, PPs]
Rockefeller appears here and is not the favorite. Mackinnon may grab that spot or Oviatt Class in this small field of 5. Baffert trains Rockefeller and has Flavian Prat on his back. Oviatt Class has been chasing Corniche and Mackinnon has been doing well, but on the turf.
Oviatt Class beat Rockefeller in the American Pharoah earlier this year by 3 lengths. I say he does it again.


At Gulfstream Park, there are a number of 3YO races, but only one that isn't a sprint. None of these races provide KYD points, but some may feed horses into races that do.
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[URL above, Saturday January 1, 2022, Gulfstream Park - Race 10, PPs]
In the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, Race 10, there are a bunch of relatively unknown colts. The biggest unknown is Strike Hard who has a sprint/miler pedigree. The others have some races under their belt, but aren't scaring the big boys who aren't here.

We'll see if anything exciting happens on the GP undercard that moves a horse up to varsity for the next round of races.

Larry
DevilHorse