Quote:
|
Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS
I think your memory of those two races is a little sketchy.
Orville N Wilbur's--who had run a pair of 107 Beyers sprinting as a 2yo, and was coming off a 5 length win in the Gr 2 San Rafeal was loose on the lead in the SA Derby. Indian Charlie and eventual champion sprinter Artax were stalking in 2nd and 3rd.
In the '01 Wood...Richly Blended, who broke his maiden by 15 lengths earlier in the year, and won the Gotham in his prior start, was loose on the lead. Congaree stalked him.
Indian Charlie was a freak--he made his stakes debut in that SA Derby, and won it in stakes record time, earning the highest Beyer ever published in the SA Derby. Like Congaree, he ran 3rd in the Ky Derby, but he came out of the race with a career ending injury.
Congaree just loved AQU...he was 4-for-4 there in his career---winning two Cigar Miles, a Wood Memorial, and a Carter...all of them supremely impressive fashion.
|
You're going by how the horses looked on paper going into the race, not what actually happened. I loved Real Quiet and Monarchos in the Derby for a reason....both were compromised by soft to slow paces in those preps and still ran well. I don't care if Artax was in there or not, they went slowly and SA was notorious for being speed favoring. You're right about Richly Blended's record, but he went slowly as well. Anyone who watched the Wood knew Monarchos had little or no chance to catch Congare, who prompted that soft pace.
I do agree w/your point about the expected pace in the Derby usually being fast. Too many dillusional owners of horses who shouldn't be running past 1 1/16 miles.