Ok so given that, added back in Shug's turf west coasters to increase sample size. 14 starters-3/4/4/3 or percentage wise: 21%, 29%, 29%, 21%. Which really is about the same as before, 50/50 to run well.

Your point at the end of the intro from last year regarding - recently, almost all the horses that looked to be tailing off, continued to tail off. That does sort of fit Honour Code to a T. Of course he won't be shipping across country this time so that's a big difference.

On the Classic field and likely ground loss - does it seem to anyone else like it could come up a bit short this year? AP/B/T/HC/ICE/FR/SMOOTH. That's 7. Liam's Map and Glen Eagles if they both were to start would be 9 and maybe Hard Aces (hard to see why they would off his last but he does have the free pass in with the win and your race) would be 10. Wicked Strong apparently not going (dirt mile). Maybe Hopportunity? Justs seems like might not be a full gate.

Going to be an interesting four weeks. At least it's on dirt so we don't have to consider poly. Thanks heavens for small favours.