DERBY/OAKS DAWN PATROL: (5/1) Valeski out, Optimizer in..

[richard]

You had Songandaprayer set the Derby record for a 1/2 at 44.86. Of the four horses at the front at the half none finished better than 11th. Congaree in 5th at the half hung in there to finish 3rd. When Hal's Hope ran for glory he was in the lead at the half in 45.99. Of the 4 horses on the lead at the half only More Than Ready finished 4th. The other 3 could do no better than 11th. So I guess you need to keep your best early pace horse in the mix with the closers when there is a hot early pace, as there usually is.

War Emblem won on the lead in his KD in a 1/2 in 47.04.