I don't disagree. A match race isn't needed either. As you are aware, post-Breeders' Cup through late January is generally a lull in the sport. The Pegasus attempts to minimize that break. We shall see.
California Chrome's name and a potential newcomer in
Arrogate sets up perfectly for publicity purposes. What the future years hold is anyone's guess at this stage. The winter card at Gulfstream is #2 on my list only after the Saratoga summer meet. This event certainly offers a unique pinnacle but if it fails for whatever reason, we go back to a typical winter meet at Gulfstream and that isn't exactly the short stick.
Frank Stronach controls major tracks on each coast but seems to be reluctant to have the Breeders' Cup return to Gulfstream likely due to the successful casino presence. He has a Plan B in (Laurel) Maryland should he want to bid for the Breeders' Cup in his other major east coast facility.
What the NYRA did with the Belmont Stakes card is simply phenomenal. They covered their bases in case there isn't a Triple Crown possibility with an annual card that perhaps is the second best on the map outside the Breeders' Cup weekend. It goes without saying but with ingenuity comes risks. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't but you have to try.
As an aside,
Rick Porter, who owns
Songbird, is fighting cancer. He may not want to be involved in such a process even if he felt
Songbird could compete but coming in off the loss in the Distaff maybe solidified his stance not to enter. There are other options for
Songbird.
Arrogate is owned by
Juddmonte and that group does not currently possess a slot. They would have to lease one from a current owner, though that should be manageable with proper intervention.
California Chrome is slated to retire following the race.
This article, though slightly dated from the summer, further explains the process with the 12 owners; however, the
Covello/Kumin share ($200,000 which was mandatory payout by a certain date) has been sold since this article has been written. Brief bios of the potential owners and any potential runners is the highlight, though again slightly dated.
http://www.drf.com/news/daring-dozen-take-1m-plunge-win-12m-pegasus-world-cup