Nobiz takes lead in Dispatch Derby Poll

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by JJP

Invasor was well out in the middle of the track.

I heard they worked on the track before this race because of the bias throughout the day.

The rail was the place to be for sure, but it's always tricky quantifying how much a horse gained from the rail trip. I feel like a lot of folks are discrediting Street Sense just for the sake of argument. He could have easily ran a much large number two-back at Keeneland if not for the premature move, and then the BC figure would be easier to swallow.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I heard they worked on the track before this race because of the bias throughout the day.

The rail was the place to be for sure, but it's always tricky quantifying how much a horse gained from the rail trip. I feel like a lot of folks are discrediting Street Sense just for the sake of argument. He could have easily ran a much large number two-back at Keeneland if not for the premature move, and then the BC figure would be easier to swallow.

I also had heard that the track was worked on between the Distaff and Classic since the only race in the interim was the Turf. I don't discredit Street Sense's performance for the sake of argument, but because I honestly think he will never run a race like that again. It was a performance like his father's Stephen Foster, just a monstrous effort that is nearly impossible to duplicate.

You're right about him possibly running a better number at Keeneland and you can probably toss the Arlington race because of the slop, I just don't see him running a race like the BC Juvenile ever again.

NT

[JJP]

Street Sense ran a monsterous race in the Breeders Futurity; he just didn't happen to win. There's no doubt in my mind he ran a far superior race to the two heavy chalks (Cirq Quay and Great Hunter) who narrowly beat him. He was 4-5 wide through the first turn, then makes a giant move wide into a 46 3/5 1:11 and change pace, which is lightening quick over the Kee Poly. The Kee Poly was also playing severely anti-speed. He continues wide through the second turn, disposes of Teuflesberg, a stakes winning sprinter, Bold Start, an allowance winner over a strong 3YO field at GP, and Birdbirdistheword, the Delta Jackpot winner and opens up a lead in midstretch only to get run down by Great Hunter and get nosed out for second by Circular Quay. I think one thing is clear: the Breeders Futurity proved to be the key race for the BC Juvenile.

[Travis Stone]

Excellent post, JJP. Very good points.