Very interesting post by DrugS....but I have a question (perhaps a stupid one) regarding the Dunkirk part of it. I didn't use Dunkirk in his race on Thursday either, but is the 20 point jump really that shocking given that it was only the colt's second race? Is it possible that his much faster race the second time is the result of him actually being a much better horse at that point than he was on 1/24, rather than a track issue on that day?
Also, wouldn't we expect a colt with his pedigree to post faster numbers going two turns and 8.5f than he did going one turn and 7f? Add in the fact that his trainer has truly outstanding sprint/route and 1st time route numbers, and perhaps his major improvement is even more predictable.
Then, as you said, the other two runners from that race that have run back big (Santana Six and Ziegfeld) were both tremendously compromised by the pace that day. I know their jumps in Beyer #s were enormous, but if the pace meltdown due to a three-way battle was a big part of it, than is that good evidence of something being done to the track after their race?
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