Tough Game: what would $300,000 have been in New York-bred competition?

Tough Game (born 1999) earned just over $300,000 in 27 starts. He was an allowance horse and a claimer; never got any black type. What is odd is that he was a New York-bred who ran in California, and indeed, never ran in New York. He ran once at Churchill Downs, of all things (he was trained by Baffert then). Doesn't this seem like a horse who would have benefited immenseley from New York-bred competiton? Doesn't it seem like that might have gotten him over the hump? I have to think you can't find many horses like him, based in America, whose connections didn't even scratch the New York-bred itch once.

By Mr. Greeley, he was bred to 10 mares last year, and has apparently had progeny race. His final start came as an 8-year-old for $16,000 claiming.