Learning from the past... (Battle Of Midway edition)
 

I got to say there is just no way I could of saw this horse landing in the tri last year. Did anyone have him? What am I missing? Even looking back its hard to make a case for it. There is just no angle I could of predicted that. The Santa Anita Derby was a soft, slow race and I just didnt like any horse coming out of it.

Before delving into the past performances for the Kentucky Derby...

Did you like any horses coming out of the Kentucky Derby itself?

It was a fairly unproductive race. And Battle Midway was a modest 3rd at best, being nearly 8 lengths behind the winner.

None of the starters displayed Grade 1-caliber consistently the rest of the year, though Girvin, Practical Joke, and Battle of Midway each took down a Grade 1 later on. For the most part they were putting up G2-G3 performances.

Arguably, only Thunder Snow--a turf horse--showed consistent Grade 1 (Group 1) form thereafter. Classic Empire too if you count his single subsequent start.

Funny. I got Derby Fever. I love this race. Over the years I've become less masturbatory over it though! If you actually play the races year round this doesn't represent greatness. Not lately anyway.

There was nothing soft about the first part of the Santa Anita Derby. It was a suicidal 3-way speed duel.

I loved his top and bottom breeding. I always respect the Raise A Native. I played him hard in Santa Anita Derby and he just missed. He ran a very high early Brisnet pace figure in that prep and was alive at the end. This suggested he had a chance to stay. I played him under Always Dreaming in the Pool 4 at around 600-1 but didn't play him in Kentucky. Oops. At least I smothered All Others and collected well.

Fair point about the fact he was in a speed duel and still finished 2nd.... hmmm Noble Indy... although he is not a RAN sire line horse

yes, Classic Empire; still can't believe he didn't win the Preakness

i used him. i didn't think we was that difficult to come up with as well.

it's a shame every TC and prep race posts were deleted. i'd love to hear the reasoning to sabotoge your own website in thinking this is a good idea to do so.