Quote:
Originally Posted by metro
Was thinking the same, something commonly seen on big days like this when there is a big time gap between dirt races. My question would be... do they work the track (the same way as otherwise) between the Sir Barton and Preakness when they have all the pre-race stuff going on?
Splits of Sir Barton were pretty much on par with Preakness...
SB - 23:56, 46:96, 1  30, 1:36:19
PR - 23:11, 47:19, 1 42, 1:36:10
...yet closers didn't crack the top 3 in the former, an hour later and the speed is desperate for the wire. Yes there are other variables, weight, distance, class, horses dueling rather than loose on lead, etc.. but just seems odd that a one run type like Lone Sailor could make up 8 lengths on the Derby winner, in the span of two weeks, on a track that had been so speed favoring up to that point. |
For a lot of reasons, comparing raw fractions at different distances is fool's gold. I'll list a few. For one, the longer distance requires a slower pace to run an optimal race. It isn't any different than people running the 200 meters versus the 400 meters. The opening 100 will be slower at 400 because people know if you go the same speed you'll tire more and finish in an overall slower time.
Another involves run up. Some track use consistent run up between distances but many don't. Pimlico uses only 30 feet for the Preakness distance while using 55 feet for the 8.5f races. When you combine longer run up with a shorter overall distance that enhances the difference.
You also have to consider how much of the turn is involved in each fraction at the different distances. This varies from track to track due to the layout of each, but obviously horses don't run as fast on a turn. An example is that on a standard mile track, the opening half mile for a six furlong race includes an entire turn while the seven furlong distance is only half a turn. That makes the 7f fraction look about 2/5 faster than it should if you try to compare it to 6f races.
