124 Beyer for Midnight Lute

[Pedigree Ann]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I agree that it is "a teeny bit more exciting" but it isn't exactly great. Lawyer Ron's two outings at Saratoga were certainly impressive, and would probably stamp him as one of the top 9f horses not just this year, but in the last couple of years. And - as you mention - the addition of the top two 3yos certainly adds someting to the luster, as it usually does. On the whole though I still think the division lacks a lot of depth.....especially in terms of 10f horses.

[Snarl] Racing secretaries don't want 10f horses anymore; don't write races for them (how many G1, G2, or G3 races at 10f on dirt on the East Coast circuit this year?). So come time for the biggies, we have to guess which 9f horse can carry on one more furlong.

[sumitas]

I put little stock in these speed figs. The track conditions at Saratoga have been severely criticized.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by sumitas

I put little stock in these speed figs. The track conditions at Saratoga have been severely criticized.

I don't think that really has much to do with making speed figures. However, it just seems pretty close to impossible that the Forego was that fast, a 125 now actually in Simulcast Daily. The figure maker used the same variant he did for the other sprints, but they were run much earlier in the day and surely something was done with the track.

As an aside, I'd like to thank NYRA once again for keeping their nearly unblemished record of running no other route races on the day of a big race.

[ateamstupid]

Lawyer Ron is the only horse capable of beating the three-year-olds in the Classic.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I don't think that really has much to do with making speed figures. However, it just seems pretty close to impossible that the Forego was that fast, a 125 now actually in Simulcast Daily. The figure maker used the same variant he did for the other sprints, but they were run much earlier in the day and surely something was done with the track.

As an aside, I'd like to thank NYRA once again for keeping their nearly unblemished record of running no other route races on the day of a big race.

I think that's a very important factor that is overlooked by nearly everyone. For example, take Belmont Park. Now, if a horse goes out there and runs a stakes race at 9f in 1:46 1/5, everyone goes crazy over the time and because it's the only route that day, there's nothing to compare it too. People forget though that Belmont is a track that a 1:46 1/5 is not overly fast. I mean, it's fast but it's not the same as a 1:46 1/5 would be anywhere else. I've seen so many sub-1:47's there that I can't keep count.

1:45 4/5
Go for Wand
Dispersal

1:46
Riboletta

1:46 1/5
Sharp Cat
Ghostzapper
Mineshaft
In Excess
Seattle Fitz
Seeking Daylight
Running Stag
Formal Gold
Oratory

1:46 2/5
Lakeway

1:46 3/5
Festin
Strike the Gold
Limehouse
Subordination
Wekiva Springs
Devil His Due

1:46 4/5
Saratoga Dew
River Keen
Holy Bull
Forever Silver

When looked at this way, each of these races probably stood out as very fast on their particular cards. But when looked at in line with what stakes horses regularly do there at that distance, it gives u a better sense of where a race actually fits.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I think that's a very important factor that is overlooked by nearly everyone. For example, take Belmont Park. Now, if a horse goes out there and runs a stakes race at 9f in 1:46 1/5, everyone goes crazy over the time and because it's the only route that day, there's nothing to compare it too. People forget though that Belmont is a track that a 1:46 1/5 is not overly fast. I mean, it's fast but it's not the same as a 1:46 1/5 would be anywhere else. I've seen so many sub-1:47's there that I can't keep count.

1:45 4/5
Go for Wand
Dispersal

1:46
Riboletta

1:46 1/5
Sharp Cat
Ghostzapper
Mineshaft
In Excess
Seattle Fitz
Seeking Daylight
Running Stag
Formal Gold
Oratory

1:46 2/5
Lakeway

1:46 3/5
Festin
Strike the Gold
Limehouse
Subordination
Wekiva Springs
Devil His Due

1:46 4/5
Saratoga Dew
River Keen
Holy Bull
Forever Silver

When looked at this way, each of these races probably stood out as very fast on their particular cards. But when looked at in line with what stakes horses regularly do there at that distance, it gives u a better sense of where a race actually fits.

Belmont is a 1 turn 1 1/8th hence the faster times.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by cmorioles

I don't think that really has much to do with making speed figures. However, it just seems pretty close to impossible that the Forego was that fast, a 125 now actually in Simulcast Daily. The figure maker used the same variant he did for the other sprints, but they were run much earlier in the day and surely something was done with the track.

As an aside, I'd like to thank NYRA once again for keeping their nearly unblemished record of running no other route races on the day of a big race.

this is something I also finding puzzling. In my mind it should be almost mandatory on a big day. I'd like to see at least two other dirt routes on the same day as a big race.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Pedigree Ann

[Snarl] Racing secretaries don't want 10f horses anymore; don't write races for them (how many G1, G2, or G3 races at 10f on dirt on the East Coast circuit this year?). So come time for the biggies, we have to guess which 9f horse can carry on one more furlong.

That is not true. They write plenty of longer races but they rarely fill. Do you really think a racing secretary cares what distance his races are as long as they are good sized, competitive fields? There is not a lot of guys asking for 1 1/4 races or else they would card more of them. The races that were cut in distance weren't cut because of overflow fields. Actually there are plenty of longer races for graded stakes horses. There are virtually none for the cheaper levels.