Big Brown vs. The Others

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by justindew

Can anyone argue that Big Brown COULD NOT have run the Derby one second faster had they gone one second faster in the opening 6 furlongs? I mean, the only possible knocks against him are his final times, which are a product of his opposition.

Yes, I can....and I will for as long as I follow racing. This kind of thought is simply wrong. In fact, had he gone his first 6 Furlongs a second faster he almost certainly would have run a slower final time. Had the fraction been a scond faster, and Big Brown been six lengths farther back while running the same six furlong time, he probably would have gone a very similar time.