Can someone explain to me why Birdrun received a 119-pound impost for the New Orleans Handicap, just three pounds off highweight Giant Oak, one pound less than Demarcation, and on more than Apart?!!
Birdrun carried 117 pounds when winning the Carl G. Rose Handicap against fellow Florida breds last November at Calder Race Course. That win is his only blacktype in four tries, including an unplaced finish last out in the Sunshine Millions Classic when carrying 122 pounds.
Giant Oak picks up four pounds off his victory in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap. He carried 115 pounds when second (placed first) in the Clark Handicap. He was winless in many graded stakes before that double, including a fifth in last year's NO Handicap when toting 119 pounds.
Demarcation picks up just a pound off his win in the Mineshaft Handicap. He finished fourth when carrying 116 pounds in the aforementioned Clark and was second to Apart in the Ack Ack when they both carried 117, but Apart gets 118 for this race deespite being a multiple graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed this year, accolades that to me indicate he should not be getting a weight break from Birdrun.
I'm on the record as not being a big fan of handicaps to begin with, but for the sake of the deity of your choice, if we're going to have them then weights have to make sense.
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Birdrun being asked to carry more weight than everyone except Giant Oak and Demarcation is indeed ridiculous.
ReplyDeletePerhaps part of the problem is that the track handicapper weighted Duke of Mischief (a horse that won't run) at 121. Birdun beat Duke of Mischief by 4 1/2 lengths in the Carl Rose getting three pounds, then lost to that rival by 5 1/2 lengths at equal weights in the Sunshine Millions.
Maybe the handicapper was so concerned getting the spread "right" between Duke of Mischief and Birdrun to pay much attention with how Birdrun's career achievements pale in comparison to others in the field.
If they're going to keep handicaps, weights should be assigned after the draw rather than before because the spreads are seemingly being influenced by those who are nominated but don't ultimately show up.
Anon: Great point and good perspective regarding when the race is actually handicapped and something I should have included.
ReplyDeleteStill doesn't pass the smell test in this case, as we both agree, but it's part of the picture.
graded stakes winner and graded stakes placed this year, accolades that to me indicate he should not be getting a weight break from Birdrun.
ReplyDeleteBirdrun carried 117 pounds when winning the Carl G. Rose Handicap against fellow Florida breds last November at Calder Race Course. That win is his only blacktype in four tries, including an unplaced finish last out in the Sunshine Millions Classic when carrying 122 pounds.
ReplyDelete