ARISTIDES: Fabulous Strike 'comes out'..

[philcski]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I would guess around 112. I only said a bit off his previous 120s.

I was dumbfounded that they let a horse that fast get away with a first quarter of 22 2/5, which obviously affects the final time a tick or two, but to be realistic with the track playing as fast as it was today to earn a 120 he would have had to broken the track record by over a half a second.

[cmorioles]

Since speed figures take the track into account, his previous 120s say smashing the track record was within his realm.

As you say, the slow opening 1/4, and that is very slow for Churchill, probably contributed to the lower time more than anything else.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

Since speed figures take the track into account, his previous 120s say smashing the track record was within his realm.

As you say, the slow opening 1/4, and that is very slow for Churchill, probably contributed to the lower time more than anything else.

I know the "if it looks like he's doing it easily he isn't going to run faster if pressured" adage but all things considered, he might have been able to. That was an absolute waltz to go 1:07 3/5.

Speaking of track records, I was at Monmouth today and the horse that ran behind Unbridled Sidney in the turf sprint the day before the BC last year crushed the track record at 5.5F on turf, 1:00.81.

[cmorioles]

They haven't been running 5.5f on the turf at Mth very long at all. Mid meet last year maybe?

[philcski]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

They haven't been running 5.5f on the turf at Mth very long at all. Mid meet last year maybe?

Correct, since they installed the new turf course (I count about 15 runs over it.) Still, 1:00.81 for 5.5F on any surface is pretty damned fast... and I think it was Brad Thomas that said the 5F split time of :54.84 would have broken the old record as well.

[cmorioles]

115 Beyer.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

115 Beyer.

And Cougar Cat got a 110.

--Dunbar

[golfer]

Originally Posted by philcski

I was dumbfounded that they let a horse that fast get away with a first quarter of 22 2/5, which obviously affects the final time a tick or two, but to be realistic with the track playing as fast as it was today to earn a 120 he would have had to broken the track record by over a half a second.

I think the slow first quarter is what allowed Cougar Cat to hang in for 2nd money.

[Bobby Fischer]

wasn't Strikes last 5f race at Mountaineer in about 57 seconds ?