It sounds similar to the excuse that was used when Afleet Alex ran dead last in the Rebel Stakes, and was totally crushed by the immortal Greater Good. I believe he had a lung infection as opposed to a throat infection.
I don't remember what the excuse was when Holy Bull finished last beaten a city block in the Fountain of Youth, but I know it had something to do with his throat. I think Skip Away might have bled, when he ran last, beaten about 35 lengths in an allowance race during his 3-year-old season.
In all three cases, those horses went onto become dominant and very popular champions.
Obviously something was extremely wrong with Discreet Cat. He went 1:07.64, in hand, to the six furlong call in his last race---and has won many big figure sprints from the lead---yet, in a race with no pace at all, he was dead last early on...instead of loose on the lead. The pacesetter, who was making the 19th start of his career, had only had the lead at the pace call once in his entire career....and that race was 11 starts back. He was also exiting a 12 furlong race!!
I don't think anyone who's ever seen this horse run really believes something wasn't badly amiss with him physically.
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