How is it possible...

[sumitas]

Saratoga track maintenace are experts at turning the last several hundred yards of the stretch into a quicksand like surface. Several years ago, on opening day, they rolled out that technique, only to have it miraculously groomed away for the feature.

They must be doing that surface prep on purpose because I can't imagine they don't have a tight grip on how to maintain that surface.

Maybe Whirlaway knew how to run at the Spa. Outer rail. Here's a nice read on our late, great, and beloved swashbuckler, "Mt Longtail". The only horse ever to win the triple crown and Travers. It reminds one somewhat of horse racing's current, flamboyant star, Evening Attire.

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/stati...ical_cameos_13

As a footnote, Affirmed briefly matched Whirlaway's triple crown - Travers record. Until one of the most famous DQs in horse racing history placed him 2nd to his arch rival Alydar in the Travers. That was their last clash.