New maiden race conditions at Saratoga

[Texarkana]

I just thought this was interesting. Saratoga has written maiden special weight races for 2 y/os who sold or bought back for $45,000 or less at their most recent sale.

The article:

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/234735/maiden-races-with-sale-conditions-set-at-saratoga

Although I’ve noticed atypical conditions in the past, I can’t recall ever seeing a race written based on public auction results before in this country… have I just missed it? I certainly can understand the reasoning behind writing such races at meetings like Saratoga that attract the super trainers with the most expensive horses.

[poltroon]

Hmm, like a claiming race but without the claiming part. I kind of like it as an idea.

[Texarkana]

@poltroon

Hmm, like a claiming race but without the claiming part. I kind of like it as an idea.

Not really. It’s a maiden special weight with extra conditions. Normally there aren’t many conditions besides age, sex, or state-bred on maiden special weight races. They’re more similar to allowance races, but for maidens (but allowance races usually have more conditions than a MSW race, so not a perfect analogy).

[Pronzini]

Santa Anita has done this but they also included home breds and Baffert had a field day. Ax Man won one of these races.

[Texarkana]

@Pronzini

Santa Anita has done this but they also included home breds and Baffert had a field day. Ax Man won one of these races.

Thanks! Totally missed that!

[LaurieB]

It’s something a few of the upper tier tracks are trying out. I think it’s a great idea and I would certainly run in one if my horse qualified.

For a few years, B. Wayne Hughes ran two 100k stakes races at Churchill Downs that were only open to horses sired by his stallions. And OBS runs stakes races for horses that have sold through their sales.

So the concept of races with extra conditions isn’t entirely new, it’s just being applied differently.

[nelson]

This is definitely interesting, and is a great idea. On a selfish note, I do wish it included homebreds, which is mostly what we have. But, I understand why that probably detracts from the purpose. These “restricted” MSWs run for $75K up there, as compared to $90K for the open MSWs. It’s a difference, but $75K is still a very nice purse in a maiden race.

[Linny]

Since most sub $45k sales grads would be running for a tag at Saratoga, it’s a great opportunity to run for big money without facing the elite sales horse or high level homebred. Many people enter the best 2yo in the barn only to run up upon multiple future graded stakes horses in spa maidens. It’s a way of broadening the entry box by skimming the cream off the top without adding a claiming price.