I'm taking this speed figure with a grain of salt.
It's just too hard to have confidence in any number they came back with. You had what appeared to be off and on rain fall during the day---and the track really seemed to change speeds throughout the day.
Just a tough day to be a figure maker in my opinion.
C P West did get the double digit top---and did it while raising sharply in class....he's certainly the best N1X alw horse in the land..that's for sure.
Curlin got an 8 point career top off his double digit Arkansas Derby blowout win.
Normally, when two horses make giant forward moves like that on figures---there is a very compelling explanation...which typically involves a very favorable pace, and or bias, and or trip.
There was certainly no smoke and mirrors with the race Curlin ran yesterday. I made a point of emphasis before the race that he needed to have "4-to-6 length seperation on Street Sense" and he was safe ---when he stumbled, he didn't get that seperation. And, because he didn't get that seperation...he got swallowed by Street Sense's explosive far turn move....which was my biggest fear. I thought there was a chance Curlin could luck into a great trip, but it really didn't happen that way.
C. P. West also wasn't really aided by anything. Zito was certainly right that he might be pointing to a career best race I guess.
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