“WSB was hidden for most of the race and seemed to be behind the same wall of horses that Tom Durkin said IWR was. WSB had to swing much further wide than IWR, who found a hole and shot through it.”
Well, I’ll have to respectfully diagree with your analysis of the trip. Revenge started his move at the beginning of the turn (I love good turn times.) He was inside Bernie and went by, only to have to wait. Although wide, Bernie never had his momentum stopped, had clear sailing at the top of the stretch. Passed Revenge briefly. Revenge had to wait, bumped the horse inside him, then easily passed Bernie when the hole opened up. Not taking anything away from Bernie but I contend Revenge was much better. FWIW.
Interesting quote from Talamo:“I thought today was a fairly easy race for him," Talamo continued. "To be honest, he only ran the last eighth of a mile, so I don’t think it took too much out of him. He just keeps getting better and better. That was the first time he got real dirt in his face and he took it like he’s had it before 100 times. He’s such a smart animal, and he’s real mature for his age.”
And Doctrine, as far as Bernie goes, "West Side Bernie, who earned $150,000 for second, will also be pointed to the Kentucky Derby, said trainer Kelly Breen."
Okay, you’ve convinced me.
But the points I was making were suggested by classical
concepts of pace, and what’s possible for ANY horse when
the pace is to his favor. A slow pace is something a speed horse can quickly take advantage of, and dominate wire to wire,(especially in situations of going from 6f to 1 mile Plus) if he and his jockey can read it right. A quick pace
will set up a race for closers, if both horse and jockey can read that right, and time their moves judiciously. Assuming there are no closers, even at a mile and an eighth, “pace may (also) make the race”, and a grinder may win. Or horses that never were closers may find opportunities for themselves to close. AND once again
it’s obviously easier for a horse to maintain “contact” with a field that’s gotten away from him (I know that’s a harness concept)if that field is from front to back not really burning up the track, like the Wood field. But now I’m even starting to bore myself. But it’s good to know WSB may be in the Derby. Which, you’ll remember, offers an entirely different distance and pace scenario altogether.