Weekend Beyers: Blind Luck 104; Sidney's 100; AmLion 98

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

With that in mind, and recognizing that the track was faster than par for Bellamy Road's Wood, here are the fractional splits for the Wood and Excelsior from 2005-09:

2009 Wood: 24.2, 48.0, 1:12:1
2009 Excelsior: 25.2, 50.3, 1:14.3

2008 Wood: 22.2, 46.0, 1:11.2
2009 Excelsior: 23.4, 48.2, 1:13.3

2007 Wood: 23.1, 47.1, 1:10.4
2008 Excelsior: 23.3, 46.3, 1:10.1

2006 Wood: 23.0, 46.1, 1:11.0
2006 Excelsior: 23.2, 46.1, 1:10.3

2005 Wood: 23.0, 46.0, 1:09.4
2005 Excelsior: 24.2, 48.1, 1:12.3

Based on these splits, I don't know how one can argue that the pace for the races this past weekend were "average" relative to the class of the horses involved.

Why not show the final times for each race as well?

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Why not show the final times for each race as well?

I had not done so, because we were discussing the pace of the race, but since you asked, I have edited the above post to include final times.

If you put the pace of the Wood in the context of other Derby preps, the pace in the Florida Derby (46.3, 1:10.3) was generally perceived as "hot," while Discreetly Mine was viewed as getting away with murder in a Risen Star that had fractions somewhat comparable (48.3, 1:13.2) to the Wood.

I have questioned the figure for the Wood because, to my way of thinking (and I think history bears this out), when the Wood winner has been perceived as a legitimate Derby threat, they have usually completed the race in the 1:47-48 range: Fusaichi Pegasus, 1:47.4; Congaree, 1:47.4; Buddha, 1:48.3; Empire Maker, 1:48.3; Bellamy Road, 1:47.0; I Want Revenge, 1:49.2. While I am not doubting the quality of Eskendereya's performance, the final time does not measure up, and I did not perceive the track as being 6 or 7 lengths slower than par on Saturday. That's why I questioned the figure, especially when the performances of Eightyfiveinafifty and Warrior's Reward, which I think were on par with their respective races, were given lower figures.