Beyer: Changing the Derby Trial figure

[Calzone Lord]

Paynter's 1-back number jumped from 92 to 100.




I have the impression that the Pimlico track was being fooled with a little early on in the Preakness card.

Obviously -- if a race track is fair -- the rail will be the best place to be generally speaking...because it's the shortest way around.

The rail was made deep for the dirt races on the Preakness day card.

Bob Baffert asked Jeff Siegal in an HRTV interview that day if he should change Bodemeister's style... Siegal told Baffert "no, but I would tell Mike Smith to stay out in the 3 or 4 path while he's setting the pace"

Smith basically kept him in the two-path throughout. I was very surprised he didn't even come out when he was clear on the far turn. Even on a fair track -- a lot of guys would have floated out and tried to herd and race ride. Especially on a tiring track like that where the inside is no good and you might get a little edge if you can come out and stop the momentum of anything on-coming.