Quote:
Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
Coincidentally, it's the only race where a strong pace rival (or two) was in front him early and did not fold like a cheap suit, forcing him to dig into his "reserves" if you like.
That is besides when Om outran him in his debut.
The Derby was much better than the Preakness. At least in Kentucky, despite coming back down to earth, he showed some mettle when neither Firing Line nor Dortmund packed it in when he came to them. At Pimlico, he did exactly what you purport, that he simply runs horses off their feet...only he went so fast for the first 3/4s that he exhausted himself, as plain as day if you simply look at his come-home time in that race. Perhaps if a strong finisher was in there, you know, besides Tale of Verve, there might have been a different outcome. Too bad today's horsemen don't remember the plethora of Derby also-rans in the '80s and '90s that came back and reversed form at Pimlico.
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Baffert suggests AP needed the Derby and was not fit enough going into the race and that it helped get him more fit. I don't know if its true but he certainly suggested as much. The point is even the incredibly fast G1 winning 110+ wonderfully talented well bred for distance Materialty got gutted by the AP even with AP's inferior damside distance pedigree. I dont recall the BSF's Rock Hard Ten got in the Malibu or SA Derby but I dont think its was as high as the wonderfully bred gifted talented Materialty. I havent seen Firing Line or dortmund in a while I hope they come back in Travers.