[blackthroatedwind]

I assume that Atomic Rain is running as, essentially, a rabbit for West Side Bernie, or at least to ensure that Quality Road doesn't stroll along on the lead. Of course this was supposed to be the case in the Wood, and instead he was passively tucked inside, and had zero affect on the race one way or another. He probably isn't fast enough to keep up with a good horse early.....and he certainly isn't fast enough to run with one late. But, what the hell, at least he ensures that there will be one less horse entered that could finish ahead of West Side Bernie.

People keep pointing to Giacomo as an example of why people can, and should, run their tortoises against the hares. It seems to me that Giacomo had a lot more credibility heading into that Derby than the Atomic Rains of the world. It's relative, but defending Atomic Rain, especially by using Giacomo, doesn't really stand up to scrutiny.