Quote:
Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up
The pace was moderate to slow in the WV Derby, if anything he should have take the lead much earlier.
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The pace wasn't 'moderate to slow' -- it was fairly quick and contested.
Bourban Courage, a horse who won his debut wire-to-wire with a 103 Beyer going 6 furlongs, was 13 lengths back after a quarter mile.
La Bernardin, a horse who won his debut wire-to-wire going six furlongs with a 91 Beyer, was 15 lengths back after a quarter mile.
Mountaineer is an oddly configured racetrack and you're comparing fractions at two different distances (8.5f VS 9f)
Tapizar is basically a 4yo version of Hansen. He got a loose lead and Nakatani let him go. Hansen didn't get a loose lead.
As for the raw pace figures of the two races -- they look like this...
Tapizar race: 104 95 93
West Va Derby: 100 90 89
Tapizar is not a slow horse -- he was 3rd by just 1.5 lengths after a half mile behind The Factor and Shackleford in last years Breeders Cup Dirt Mile -- a race that collaposed. The two horses last and next to last early were Caleb's Posse, who won by 4 lengths at 6/1 and Tres Borrachos 3rd at 30/1.
Tapizar and Hansen -- much like Shackleford -- are speed horses that perform much better with uncontested early leads. Tapizar ran faster, but he was loose and didn't have anyone hooping and hollering and going head-to-head with him.