Blinkers are a huge early speed enhancer ... that's why about 90% of horses at 2-year-old in training sales use them in their under-tack drills. And every year there are more and more horses wearing them at 2yo sales.
Even with the addition of the blinkers, I had no idea Palace Malice was capable of that kind of breakaway speed. He set the 4th fastest pace in Kentucky Derby history, and he did it willingly.
Anytime you see a race where the opening half mile was 45.33 and the final half mile was 53.09 ... it's an extremely safe bet that closers dominated it.
John Velazquez had a brutal week. The huge Dreaming of Julia debacle, and both Wise Dan and Orb won the two big races today without him.
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