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Originally Posted by SecretAgentMan
2 different types of horses.......if there's a pace melt down, Hoppertunity wins. If Constitution has an easy pace/lead, its over, Conny wins.
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I pretty much agree with SecretAgentMan.
While Constitution seems to be the more likely of the two to win IMO, I wouldn't be shocked if either horse won, or if either horse was overwhelmed by the Derby and was no factor.
Hoppertunity hasn't really flashed the Grade 1 brilliance. But he's a rare horse that really seems to run the last 8th particularly well, and if galloping out was some kind of category we looked at (why not?), he'd be the best in that category. If we get a pace like last year and a grudge match in the lane, he's one of the ones that come to mind.
Constitution looks like the more brilliant of the two. His Florida Derby win wasn't enough in my mind to "prove" that he's a grade 1 triple crown contender, but he certainly hinted at it. That was a tough race to read. He got the great inside path trip, but there wasn't much change of position going on in that race. I would have like to see him react in a race with some pace pressure where horses were tiring. Another contrast with Hoppertunity - something that was pointed out to me on the DRF comments - Constitution stays on his right lead for some time during the gallop outs. He's a right dominant horse which helps entering the stretch, but you'd prefer to see the proper footwork everywhere.
