Quote:
Originally Posted by denniswilliams
Charted Equibase GPS data for the Bluegrass, Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby, and Remsen. Used the 'Whole Furlong' option, so 9 calls for the 9F.
Did the Bluegrass 1st, and was 'shocked' how good that race was: speed held and SL got no help at all. (The other closer that moved before SL backed up the final furlong.) HUGE effort!
Then the FL Derby: the field stayed with F for all of 6 furlongs, then went straight up (back).
Remsen: 'looks' even more impressive than the Bluegrass but it's really not, as: the track was off; 2 other horses from the rear 'escorted' him and ran 3rd and 4th; the rest of the field, other than the winner, backed up after 7 furlongs.
SL gets more distance and has shown he can win off the pace without help. Unless Fierceless turns out to be the 2nd coming of Seattle Slew, doubtful SL gets beat.
|
Visually I disagree that he got no help because going to the 3/8ths when Just a Touch went to a full drive due to Epic Ride moving forward that was about 5 seconds before he (rider of Just a Touch) probably ideally wanted to. In fact Epic Ride was widest of the speed and moving forward on both turns. So if he's at or near the front in the Derby that's going to be a problem for someone because mid-turn is far from the wire at Churchill, any early moves can take a toll at the 1/8 pole. That was why I loved Sierra Leone in the Bluegrass because of Epic Ride's presence, I can love him again in the Derby for the same reasons. As for speed holding, I get where you're coming from although sometimes it's an honest pace and the speed stays around because they're just better than the rest. The notion that this Bluegrass should be an upgrade to the winner on race flow because speed and speed were 2nd and 3rd, I don't know about that. Remove Epic Ride and that turn move and it might've been a photo for the win IMO.
