Quote:
Originally Posted by GMB@BP
That 93' mile is insane when you factor in the wide trip and fractions for the half mile. What a miler.
|
The burden of Lure's horrendous outside post was alleviated greatly by the antics of Ski Paradise from the inside. While Lure did go 5 or 6 wide into the first turn, Smith was able to drop in to the 2 or 3 path before completing the turn as pace rivals Flawlessly, Paradise Creek, and Lech all had to check sharply.
Not only that, but Lure was granted some insurance for the latter stages of the race--regardless of what fractions he set down the backstretch--when one of his main rivals Barathea (who subsequently romped to a course record in Lure's attempt at a 3rd consecutive Mile in '94) also blew the first turn, taking the rest of the field save for Johann Quatz with him (including late threats Toussaud and Bigstone).
Its telling of the plight of Lure's main rivals that Fourstars Allstar at 75-1 was able to save 3rd with a clean trip. Only he and the outclassed Johann Quatz (who happened to run 2nd in the Mile the following year) seem to be unaffected. The sprinter Catrail was really run through the wringer as he appeared to check and stumble badly approaching the far turn after getting pulverized in the first turn.
This was only Paradise Creek's second start following a 6 month break in the middle of his 4yo season. He never missed the board after that, but also never started in a flat mile race again.
RIP Big Boy!!
