Derby prep pace figs & observations

[Indian Charlie]

This goes to support that I think FF isn't really a front running type of horse anyways, and that he'll do better sitting back a little ways off the lead.

I love that.

Why does everyone think he's a need the lead runner?

[Thunder Gulch]

Dr. Roman's site always has some good stuff on pace parameters and how they fit historical guidelines on the Derby trail......

[Sightseek]

re: Imperial Council, wasn't the Gotham the first time he was taken far off the pace? What was your pace number for him in his allowance race?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

It was the first time he was taken well off the pace.

Here are the four lifetime pace #'s I have for him. Note that his first three starts were all sprints - so the pace call would be 4fs instead of 6.

Gotham: 69
3yo Alw: 94
Bel MSW win: 66
Sar debut: 79

It's rare to see a horse go from a 94 pace 93 final sprinting - to a 69 pace and 98 final routing.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

It was the first time he was taken well off the pace.

Here are the four lifetime pace #'s I have for him. Note that his first three starts were all sprints - so the pace call would be 4fs instead of 6.

Gotham: 69
3yo Alw: 94
Bel MSW win: 66
Sar debut: 79

It's rare to see a horse go from a 94 pace 93 final sprinting - to a 69 pace and 98 final routing.

At the risk of sounding stupid, so does this mean he's a horse that won't be a casualty of pace because he is basically making his own race or do you consider his last race a complete anomaly?

[The Indomitable DrugS]

I think they simply opted not to use his speed at all last time.

The Gotham's 89 pace fig seems ok - but it's pretty slow in relation to the razor sharp final time of the race.

Had the pace call been after 4fs instead of 6fs - I'm pretty sure that the Gotham would have earned a markedly lower pace fig - because the first half mile of the race was a total crawl .. but the third quarter mile was very sharp and inflated the pace fig to an 89.

Basically, the way I look at it - the connections of Imperial Council blew there best chance to win by the tactics they used.

Saying that, no matter what tactics they used - they certainly weren't beating IWR on that speed friendly track .. and they set Imperial Council up well to stretch out to further distances.

Both his sire and dam sire won the Belmont Stakes ... and horses who have shown good raw speed sprinting - as well as the ability to run well in a slow paced route - are the kind of horses who can be tough in the Belmont.

[Sightseek]

In this article Moss says that the FL Derby was one of the slowest-paced Derby preps so far?

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/hor...ndy&id=4034588