jcovello wrote:
"Regardless of where one comes out on the selection criteria, I was having a good discussion with some sharp handicappers yesterday who were focused on how the selection criteria has made the race more formful (sp?) the last few years."
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The points system started with the 2013 edition. From 1986 to 2012, graded earnings were the determining factor for the field.
Since 2013, the ordinal betting rank of the top 5 finishers are as follows:
2013: 1st-16th-2nd-5th-7th (Orb, Golden Soul, Revolutionary, Normandy Invasion, Mylute)
2014: 1st-17th-3rd-2nd-7th (Chrome, Commanding Curve, Danza, Wicked Strong, Samraat)
2015: 1st-4th-2nd-5th-9th (AP, Firing Line, Dortmund, Frosted, Danzig Moon)
EDIT: Besides the Dallas Stewart horses, it has been incredibly formful during the points era as compared to the betting public's handicapping in the win pool. For a handicapper who singled a Dallas Stewart horse in a pick 6, the race could have been slightly more formful in '14 as compared to his handicapping......