Race #3 today was at the distance of one mile and won by Mineswept -- who was in for a $14,000 claiming tag.
They went fractions of: 22 4/5 -- 45 4/5 -- : 1:10 2/5
The year of Spectacular Bid's Belmont -- that seasons champion sprinter Star De Naskra (Won the 6f Bold Ruler by 5 lengths & wired the Carter over Alydar and Sensative Prince in his last two starts) battled with Darby Creek Road (still to this day holds Saratoga track record of 1:20.40 for 7 furlongs) at the distance of a mile.
They went fractions of: 23 4/5 -- 46 3/5 -- 1:10 3/5
You get the idea -- the track was MUCH slower on Belmont day in 1979.
Now compare the fractions between the '79 Belmont and this years Belmont:
'79 Belmont: 23 2/5 -- 47 3/5 -- 1:11 1/5 -- 2:02 2/5 -- 2:28 3/5
'12 Belmont: 23 3/5 -- 49 1/5 -- 1:14 3/5 -- 2:04 1/5 -- 2:30 2/5
Spectacular Bid (with Cordero in pursuit on General Assembly) ran 3.40 seconds (or 21 lengths) faster for six furlongs than did Paynter.
Meanwhile, Good Law (in for a $14,000 claiming tag today) set fractions much faster than the seasons Eclipse Champion Sprinter Star De Naskra.
Food for thought. When adjusted for track speed -- Spectacular Bid probably went 30 lengths faster than Paynter early on -- and he had to hold off a closer like Coastal (who ran Hall of Fame numbers his entire 3yo season) and Golden Act (a Grade 1 winner at 13 furlongs and winner of two Grade 2's at 12 furlongs)
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