Can a horse who has made a sufficient number of starts on the year, but who has not competed in a Grade 1 race all year, be considered one of the top members in a division where Grade 1 stakes opportunities abound?Its a matter of opinion, of course. But Da Big Hoss, who made Saturdays Kentucky Turf Cup his fourth straight stakes victory and fifth stakes win of 2016, has forced the conversation.Gifted openings on the rail in the Sword Dancer or not, there is no question that Flintshire is the best turf male in North America so far this season, and by a margin so large its ridiculous. Flintshires victories in his three starts this year in the Sword Dancer, a Grade 1 event, and in the Grade 1 Manhattan and the Grade 2 Bowling Green, were exhibitions of uncommon class.But what about the rest of the male turf division, and where near the top does Da Big Hoss fit, if at all?Da Big Hoss, claimed for $50,000 in June 2015 and whose only career attempt at the Grade 1 level was a respectable sixth at 60-1 in the Breeders Cup Turf last fall, has but one blemish on his record this year: a fifth in the Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream in March. And for that, maybe you might want to say that Gulfstream can be a lot like Las Vegas -- what happens there can often stay there.Otherwise, Da Big Hoss has been like clockwork. He won the Grade 3 John Connally going 12 furlongs at Sam Houston in his first start of the year. And after his loss in the Mac Diarmida, this 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid won the Grade 2 Elkhorn at 12 furlongs at Keeneland, the ungraded, 2-mile Belmont Gold Cup, the Grade 3, 1-1/16-mile American St. Leger at Arlington, and the aforementioned Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs at 12 furlongs.So to keep score, thats five stakes wins this year for Da Big Hoss, over five different turf courses, in four states. You cant help but admire that.How does Da Big Hosss 2016 record stack up against the ones yours truly has ranked below Flintshire in this weeks Watchmaker Watch? Lets take a look.Ironicus was an excellent second to Flintshire in the Manhattan after a less-than-perfect trip, and after winning the Grade 3 Fort Marcy in his 2016 bow. However, he has not raced since the Manhattan, although he has put some workouts together very recently.Mondialiste won the Grade 1 Arlington Million in his only North American start this year. But this years Million was far from the best ever run for these reasons: Mondialiste is a miler, so its an indictment of the Million that he won it going 10 furlongs. The Million had the same winning Beyer Figure of 100 that Da Big Hoss earned winning the American St. Leger on that same card. And Greengrassofyoming, who was beaten only 1-1/4 lengths when fourth in the Million after trouble, was beaten more than five lengths without trouble when fourth behind Da Big Hoss in the Kentucky Turf Cup.Obviously was extremely impressive winning the Poker Stakes in June. However, that was only a Grade 3 race, it was his only win this year, he hasnt raced since (although he is working right along), and he has been unable to start more than four times a year the last three seasons.Divisidero won the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic in May. But that was his only win this year, he hasnt raced since finishing fifth in the Manhattan, and hasnt had a published work since July.Midnight Storm has had a fine year, winning the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, the Grade 2 Eddie Read, and the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile. Still, even his most ardent fans would concede he beat weak fields in the Eddie Read and Del Mar Mile.Tourist won the Grade 1 Fourstardave, but that was his only win this year. And World Approval won the Grade I United Nations, but that was his only stakes win this year.Money Multiplier was an excellent and underrated second to Flintshire in the Sword Dancer. While everyone was complaining about how Inordinate opened the rail for Flintshire at the top of the stretch, everyone seemed to miss how Money Multiplier (who, like Flintshire, is trained by Chad Brown), opened the rail for Flintshire on the far turn the final time, costing Money Multiplier critical position. But as tremendous as Money Multipliers second, beaten less than two lengths, was in the Sword Dancer, he has not won a stakes race this year.Finally, while Flamboyant was sharp winning the Grade 2 San Gabriel and Grade 2 San Marcos very early this year, his recent form has taken a substantial tumble.Purely from the standpoint of numbers, Da Big Hosss 2016 record says he should probably crack anyones top 10 list of North American turf males this year, and I guess I will have to find a spot for him in the next Watchmaker Watch at the expense of the slumping Flamboyant.However, I do have a problem with the fact that even as a horse who wants an extended distance, Da Big Hoss has not availed himself of the Grade 1 opportunities that were there for him. Even if you think the 10-furlong Manhattan on June 11 and the Arlington Million were a touch too short for him, Da Big Hoss passed on the Grade 1 Man o War at 11 furlongs May 14, he passed on the Grade 1 United Nations at 11 furlongs July 2, and he passed on the Sword Dancer at 12 furlongs August 27.If Da Big Hoss really is the second-best turf distance horse in the country behind Flintshire, he could have proven it in one of those races. Cheap NBA Jerseys . LOUIS -- St. Cheap Rockets Jerseys China . Hey!" The lower tier of the School End of Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road was packed solid with a very festive-sounding Chelsea choral section in this particular part of South Africa Road London, W12. http://www.cheaprocketsjerseys.com/ . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Vincent Edwards Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. Wholesale Rockets Jerseys .C. -- Todd Fiddler scored a hat trick, including the overtime goal, as the Prince George Cougars survived an 8-7 win against the Kamloops Blazers in Western Hockey League play Sunday. TAMPA, Fla. -- Frank Martins uneasiness about how No. 16 South Carolina might respond to its first loss of the season was unfounded.PJ Dozier and Duane Notice assured that, stepping up in the absence of leading scorer Sindarius Thornwell to help the Gamecocks (9-1) shrug off cold shooting and pull away to a 77-66 victory over South Florida on Saturday.Dozier scored 11 of his 23 points in the closing minutes and Notice gave South Carolina a spark by contributing 14 of his 15 points after halftime to help the Gamecocks bounce back from last Mondays 67-64 loss to Seton Hall.It was my concern for this basketball team coming into this game, coming off our first loss, being so young, that some guys wouldnt handle it (well). Losing is an epidemic, and losing is not good. And young people dont know how to handle losing, Martin said.It was our first experience as a team to go through it. I think we kind of came out and played the first half like somebody took our dog. We didnt have our enthusiasm, the fight that weve played with every single day out, Martin added. But Im equally as pleased, I thought we played well in the second half as a basketball team. Different guys doing things. Obviously PJ continues to grow as a player here and do unbelievable things. But like I told him, its also his challenge.The Gamecocks (9-1) improved to 2-1 without Thornwell, who has been suspended indefinitely for violating athletic department policy.With Sind being out, we had only two seniors out on the floor. So as Coach said, were young. Were a young team and were just looking to grow, Dozier said.We came out first half a little sluggish. We make our offense out of our defense and wasnt doing that the first half, the 6-foot-6 sophomore guard added. We went into the locker room and Coach gave us that word that we needed and came out with the intensity we should have started with.Jahmal McMurray led USF (5-4) with 25 points. Malik Fitts had 12 points and Geno Thorpe finished with 11 points and nine rebounds for the Bulls, who led 37-31 at halftime.South Carolina began the second half with a 17-9 burst to take a 48-41 lead. Dozier and Notice keyed the initiial surge and Dozier took over down the stretch, when the Gamecocks led by as many as 13.ddddddddddddWe got, maybe, a little bit complacent. Didnt come out with the fire that we had in the first half, McMurray said. The second half, we just have to ... come out with the same fire.THE BIG PICTURESouth Carolina, which has its highest ranking since being No. 14 in the final poll of the 1997-98 season, obviously misses Thornwell, who leads them in assists, as well as scoring and rebounding. With Notice missing the first eight shots he attempted, including six from 3-point range, the Gamecocks trailed at halftime for the first time this season.Not surprisingly, South Florida faded down the stretch. Luis Santos made a layup to trim South Carolinas lead to 64-61 with 7 minutes left, however the Bulls didnt score again from the field until Bo Zeiglers basket with 29 seconds left.FIRST BIG TESTSouth Carolina is only Power 5 opponent USF is scheduled to face this season. The Bulls fell to 0-4 against ranked opponents under coach Orlando Antigua and have dropped 20 consecutive games to Top 25 opponents since knocking off No. 15 Louisville on the road on Feb. 29, 2012.POLL IMPLICATIONSThe Gamecocks may lose some ground in the next AP poll, however, rebounding on the road -- albeit against an opponent thats had its share of problems against a weak schedule -- will likely keep the Gamecocks in the Top 25.UNIENDO LOS TOROSUSF designated Saturday as Uniendo Los Toros, which in English translates to Uniting The Bulls. The game featured two of three Hispanic-American head coaches in NCAA Division I in South Carolinas Martin and USFs Antigua. Miamis Jim Larranaga is the third. Early arrivals among the announced crowd of 2,489 at the Sun Dome received white T-shirts commemorating the occasion.UP NEXTSouth Carolina: Returns home to face intrastate rival Clemson on Wednesday.South Florida: Faces Northern Illinois at home on Tuesday.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. ' ' '