Is there a way to tell

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by miraja2

Like with most things, pedigree can give you some clues on this question, but it hardly provides all of the answers. If a horse with a good dirt pedigree runs well on synthetics, there is a better chance that horse will be able to transfer that form to a dirt track than if the horse has a turf pedigree.
The horse you mentioned is by Tapit and out of a Tarr Road mare which doesn't tell me very much. Tapit is such a young sire that it is hard to know much, and I don't know squat about Tarr Road.
However, Tapit certainly has a dirt pedigree, and the dam was a stakes horse on the dirt, so based on that I think you could say that it is fairly likely that the form might transfer. However, it is extremely tough to know for sure. Over time, people probably will develop a more complete understanding of who the true "synthetic sires" are as opposed to the "dirt sires," but even then it will be something of a guessing game.

Good points....Sometimes a talented horse is just a talented horse, regardless of surface. She's fun to watch - and she's surprised me. I posted after the Debutante that I wasn't sure that SB would stretch out (so many of these types are just closing sprinters) and she has.