The 4 fastest Derby paces of all-time

[Calzone Lord]

1981: Half Mile in 45 1/5

Here are the top 11 finishers that year:



Only Bold Ego was anywhere near the pace. He was 2nd after a half mile and finished up 10th beaten more than 11 lengths by winner Pleasant Colony.

In his next start, he finished 2nd to Pleasant Colony in the Preakness, and was beaten less than a length.

Splendid Spruce, positioned 9th out of 21 after a half mile, was the next closest to the pace. He had won the Santa Anita Derby in his previous start, and he won the Grade 2 Mervin Leroy at Hollywood Park three weeks later.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

1981: Half Mile in 45 1/5

Here are the top 11 finishers that year:



Only Bold Ego was anywhere near the pace. He was 2nd after a half mile and finished up 10th beaten more than 11 lengths by winner Pleasant Colony.

In his next start, he finished 2nd to Pleasant Colony in the Preakness, and was beaten less than a length.

Splendid Spruce, positioned 9th out of 21 after a half mile, was the next closest to the pace. He had won the Santa Anita Derby in his previous start, and he won the Grade 2 Mervin Leroy at Hollywood Park three weeks later.

Many of us still can't believe we lost that bet on Bold Ego in the Preakness.

[Calzone Lord]

I was still months from being born.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

I was still months from being born.

That's just one of the reasons they are considered the good old days.

[10 pnt move up]

I apply this method of handicapping to most everyday races when playing, try to make it a touch simper then trying to figure out trainer intentions, patterns, etc.

[Calzone Lord]

The 5th fastest Derby half was Spanish Chestnut 45.38 the year Giacomo won.

The 6th fastest Derby half was Bodemeister in 45.39

I'll Have Another was just 8 lengths in back of that half...so he got a little taste of it.

Dullahan and Went The Day Well could only manage a 3rd and 4th place finish despite the big pace setup.

Dullahan was 12.5 lengths back after a half mile, he finished 3rd beaten less than 2 lengths. He was 7th in the Belmont Stakes as the 5/2 post time favorite next time out.

Went The Day Well was 18.5 lengths back after a half mile, he finished 4th beaten just 2.5 lengths in the Derby.

He was 10th beaten 30 lengths at 5/1 in the Preakness to I'll Have Another and Bodemeister.

Pleasant Colony, Ferdinand, Monarchos, Giacomo, and now Orb all capitalized on the setup.

But the record of deep closers who ran well in these Derby's, but didn't win, is downright gruesome.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Pleasant Colony, Ferdinand, Monarchos, Giacomo, and now Orb all capitalized on the setup.

.

So your saving the next couple weeks to load up against Orb in Baltimore!

[Calzone Lord]

On the +20/-12 method, all of the closers in the Derby are general bet againsts.

I've gotten away from worrying so much about big races over the years, the advantage situations are more plentiful if you seek them out at tracks all over the country.

There's no way I'm betting any of the closers in the Preakness. Loading up though? With who?

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

On the +20/-12 method, all of the closers in the Derby are general bet againsts.

I've gotten away from worrying so much about big races over the years, the advantage situations are more plentiful if you seek them out at tracks all over the country.

There's no way I'm betting any of the closers in the Preakness. Loading up though? With who?

It was more of a joke and a bit a play in the next two weeks about how Orb is going to be just about a cinch, when in history we hear that quite often coming into the Preakness.

I don't know if he is a cinch, race dynamics change where he is up against it and I would not be so sure he is good enough to overcome it. The "who" well, that's a bit tougher. Oxbow is the most likely horse out of the Derby run a winning type race.

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

On the +20/-12 method, all of the closers in the Derby are general bet againsts.

What are referencing with the +20/-12? Pace figs?