I think Thunder Gulch was a presser in the derby, although had been a closer earlier in his career the last time I studied those derby charts. I believed he was remained closer to the pace the rest of his career except for Preakness. But if you did that from memory that is a pretty good list from off the top of your head.

Ive done them all going back to 1930 and very nearly the same % breakdown follows all the way back. It's about 46-48% closers about 1/2 that stalkers and the rest gtw or pressers. There must be a reason these numbers continue to hold and it must have to do with the added distance at this pt in their careers as well as whatever type surface CD is usually set at. Maybe the field size too but maybe not...?

I am beginning to like Pyro but I cant believe he is ahead of War Pass at this pt. Other than that he seems like the real deal.The more I study the derby it seems to me it may be more of a question of what horse can accelerate at the right moment rather than straight on running times/BSF etc.

For one thing, the only way to explain certain races is to sort of accept that the final time could have been anywhere w/in a range and that it really was a question of at what pt. the jockey believed it was the right moment to send his horse. Whether Citation wins the Preakness in 2:05 or whatever it was is not really germane, that fact that he coudl accelerate at a moment's notice was a clear, tangible advantage, albeit difficult to measure.

This idea may also explain why slop may tend to produce larger beaten margins. It is simply very difficult to accelerate quickly and horses that are in a good position to do so can pretty much dictate when they go. Think Street Sense in the BC juvenile; he's not really 10 lengths beter than the field is he? He may not even be 5 lengths better on a fast track. But he has push buton acceleration. Or like Dust Commander winning the derby 5 lengths. Or Assault winning by 8?? The latter two horses did not tower over their fields in the way that SpendaBuck or Sec/Sham or Barbaro did. Something else is going on here.

Or compare dirt to KEE type synethic and turf races. These horses seem to have a very different style having to do with the ability to accelerate anytime they want. And nearly every turf race looks the same. WHy is that? The only thing I can think of is that this ability to accelerate on a moment's notice is easier on turf, even mediocre horses have it. THey dont win much but at least the winning margins are smaller the very opposite of dirt/slop.

If sur someone else smarter than me knows a better theory but in my feeble mind this is all I come up with.

Pyro is not my derby horse, at this pt. But if anone can avoid traffic troubles it is him. Compare to like Blackberry Rd. or that Majestic Warrior horse. I would not count on Pyro being blocked on derby day, that much I would be willing to put money on, not much else but that I would bet on.

Elysium Fields and Visoinaire are also closers that seem intriguing on derby day. Definitely want to take a closer look at EF..