Classic Empire wins on wrong lead

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I think you are a little bit confused. Classic Empire switched back to his left lead about 3 seconds before the wire. That is not the same as a horse who didn't switch leads. You will sometimes see a horse who does not switch leads and stays on his left lead all the way down the stretch. That is a very bad sign. That is not what happened in this case. Classic Empire switched leads perfectly at the top of the stretch. He was on his right lead all the way down the stretch but switched back to his left lead right before the finish line. That's not that big of a deal. As NTamm said, it was most likely because the horse got a little bit tired.

There have been plenty of good horses over the years who switch back to their left lead in deep stretch. Funny Cide comes to mind. He switched back to his left lead in deep stretch in both his Ky Derby and Preakness wins.

I think Funny Cide had a little trouble in both the Holy Bull and the Wood, but don't recall him switching leads in any of his preps. I could well be wrong, but I don't recall that.

For me, a horse that's switching leads in the stretch (Everyone sees things a little differently, I saw him beginning to switch at the 1/16th pole, not 3 seconds before the wire), after sitting off a respectable but certainly not quick pace, going a mile 1 1/8 three weeks before the Derby - has conditioning and/or distance issues that one race isn't going to fix. He was life and death to catch Conquest Mo Money (who's not even going to contest the Derby and is point to the Preakness).

No thanks, especially at the price he's going to go to post at...