Noble's Promise: Did Willie Cost him at least a placing?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by the_fat_man

Horses that find trouble at key points in the race are at an advantage.

This is where you're losing me.
If the horse had simply been walled off for a bit and forced to gradually make his way to the outside (while drafting) without being forced to check, I think I could understand your point. But - to me - that doesn't look like what hapened to Ice Box. Wasn't he flat-out blocked off in the stretch and forced to steady for a moment in order to get around? I'm honestly and sincerely trying to understand your perspective here, but I just don't see how in the world something like that could have helped him.