Most Vicious Derby Pace Ever

[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.