Miff,
The moment the maiden crossed the wire in second I told my dad "This is what the points system gets Churchill, a maiden in the Derby."
Two thoughts have come to mind.
1. Altering the points system would not prevent this occurrence but if they want to stick with this system, change seems in order. Going against Trojan Nation being undeserving, but does a second place finish in the marquee preps deserve more points than the secondary preps? For instance, Shagaf deserves 40 points for winning the Gotham while Trojan Nation would earn 50 for being second in the Wood due to recency, increased purse, and competition in the bigger event? Majesto's second place Fla Derby is worth less than Mohaymen's FOY? This doesn't seem accurate with obtaining the best horses in the most recent preps. Also, in addition to second I would propose the scoring for 3rd and 4th in the last preps would be increased. I don't care about Animal Kingdom's example but the poly prep at Turfway needs to go. I want the best 20 dirt horses in the world in the starting gate not a poly or turf horse. Don't give me the Churchill dirt really helps the horses with turf hooves....I want the best DIRT horses which brings me to idea number 2.
2. While not as "defined" as the current system, would a committee of experts provide a better Derby field than any system? Certainly there will always be horses left out on the perimeter but I'm analogizing this to the NCAA tourney. In addition, the entire "draw" could be seeded by the committee 1 through 20 with Seed 1 picking their post position first. This would reward the most deserving prospect rather than sticking some deserving horses in the dreaded 1 hole. As for the committee makeup, a representative from each jurisdiction where preps are located would be a possibility. Include one trainer, one owner, one jockey, one handicapper with one year appointments (no direct connection to the entrants is a reqt.) along with the committee members from New York, Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Dubai, New Mexico, etc.
EDIT: The committee idea could lend itself to a major television event announcing the horses and seeds that would eclipse the current post position draw tv event that ends up ruining certain horses chances depending on their draw. And certainly there would be some cat and mouse games with horses running styles playing a part in the strategy of the connection choosing their post.
I know I'm tilting at windmills but the committee idea really seems to be the way to obtain the truly best dirt field. Oscar Nominated, Trojan Nation, and Lani appear to have little business in Running for the Roses besides picking up some pieces. Even CDI should want the 20 best horses possible and a points system is not the way to go. In addition, the committee can extend invitations to horses they believe are deserving and if the connections decline, they move on to the next horse to make up the best 22 horses with 2 AE until the morning of the Oaks when wagering would begin.
