Most Vicious Derby Pace Ever

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by Port Conway Lane

I recall Top Avenger set a hot pace for Goto Del Sol (?can't exactly remember the winner) but up until Songandaprayer I believe he may have set the fastest pace in the derby.

Top Avenger went the fastest opening 1/4 in Derby history and tied for the second fastest opening 1/2.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I was just joking .. Brown didn't really say that... though the way his scale is going -- I wouldn't doubt if he did.

Groovy didn't seem to find himself until after the trainer change to Jose Martin.

Groovy was still plenty fast before Martin, who just figured out to keep him sprinting.

Chasing Groovy through the early furlongs that Derby were Zabaleta (who beat Groovy in the Bay Shore and later won the Mervyn Leroy), Bachelor Beau (who won the Blue Grass), and Snow Chief. That wasn't cheap speed. 1-2-3-4 after a quarter ended up 16-12-14-11.

In retrospect, that Derby showed just how talented Broad Brush was. Although in the second flight early on, he was still close enough to feel the pace effects. He had the lead at the quarter pole and stayed on well through the stretch behind Ferdinand but still fighting with the British colt Bold Arrangement. Granted, it wasn't a Congaree performance, but still very good.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Here's Lido Palace getting punked by Express Tour and Street Cry in Dubai in 2001..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8xbh2v0qNs

Here's Lido Palace punking Albert the Great and Tiznow just a few months later ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzZmSndYUJY


I'm not sure what Frankel's record was in Dubai .... but I'm pretty sure it wasn't very good.