BEYER: Poly's Anti-Speed Bias

[SniperSB23]

I wonder if the perception of the anti-speed bias has caused the lone speed to go much slower than they would otherwise and made it even more difficult to win on the front end. Seems to me if Teuflesberg went out in 24/48/1:12 he could have opened 10-12 lengths on that field. For them to even be that close they would have had to run much faster than they ran yesterday which would have dulled their kicks somewhat. So now they can maybe only close in 36 instead of 34 and have 10-12 lengths to make up. A good closer can fly at the end of a poly race so I think if you are the lone speed you want to get as much seperation as feasible and make them catch you at the end. Going as slow as possible and leaving them within striking distance and a full tank isn't going to work well on this surface. Maybe if jockeys realize this we'll start seeing some more wire jobs.

[Scurlogue Champ]

The first jock that learns to break fast, then give the horse a break in the middle fractions, and then spurt away at the turn will get a few wire jobs I would say.

Put 10 lengths on them, take a break, then kick the last three furlongs.

Aussie style wire-job.

[MisterB]

I thought the jocks got instructions from the trainers?

[Cannon Shell]

Imagine what what of happened if Keeneland still had dirt on Sat? The card would have been decimated and there is a shot that a couple of horses in the Bluegrass may have scratched. Fact is that they had few scratches, even in the off the turf races and set all kinds of betting records on Sat despite the horrid weather. Dont think other tracks aren't watching either. They are.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

The compositon of the Blue Grass field would have been much different had it been run over the old Keeneland dirt track....and who do you think might have scratched from the field?

Prior to the poly-track, KEE races are almost never taken off-the-turf.

I'm a fan of full fields....and competitive races....and that's the benefit of the surface to horseplayers....however, as a fan of the sport, I hate watching racing over that surface...it's a complete eye-sore...like watching harness racing without sulkys.

I also have doubts that a skilled handicapper has any advantage playing races over that surface....

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

The compositon of the Blue Grass field would have been much different had it been run over the old Keeneland dirt track....and who do you think might have scratched from the field?

Prior to the poly-track, KEE races are almost never taken off-the-turf.

The field may have been a little different but trainers seem more worried about the timing rather than the surface.
I believe Street Sense may have scratched on a sloppy track. Obviously just a hunch.

Saturday they would have taken them off no matter what. Dont forget that Pat Day had all the power in the jocks room in KY for 20 years and he was never one to complain about track condition. If Pat was ok with the track then everybody just fell in line. I'm not so sure that the current colony would be so forgiving.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I hear ya.

I think a horse like Deadly Dealer would have run in the Blue Grass as opposed to the Arkansas Derby...if the old KEE dirt surface was still around. I also have a feeling a few other cheaper speeds who might run in the Lexington might have taken a shot.

Perhaps Great Hunter would have ran elsewere...as his style would appear to be better suited to polytrack...than the old KEE dirt.

If Street Sense scratched from the Blue Grass on the old KEE dirt....would CN run him in the Derby off of one-prep and seven weeks between races? My hunch is he wouldn't have scratched regardless of track condition...but you're a lot closer to the situation and more inside than I am.

[MisterB]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I also have doubts that a skilled handicapper has any advantage playing races over that surface....

I am impressed with this , cool.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I can see Takeover Target or Court's In Session as I read this.

Apache Cat and Desert War as well.