Quote:
Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS
My hunch proved right - that's exactly what they just did.
The 9f races (Hystericalady and Curlin) were split from the 8.5 furlong races (Pyro and Mambo)
It was a VERY questionable thing to do because the Pyro race came in between the HL and Curlin race - and tracks don't speed right up and slow right back down again - but... they have become very split variant happy when making the Beyer Figs - so it certainly seemed like a very safe bet they would do that... and I was a bit surprised they didn't do it initially.
|
Back on the original topic, I actually think they did a pretty good job with the numbers. All the routes featured VERY slow paces. While it is possible that is due to jockey strategy, it is highly unlikely. It seems to me the part of the track used in routes and not sprints was very slow for whatever reason, be it wind or shade or whatever. So, a race with an extra 1/2 furlong in the slow footing could very well be different. It isn't any different than Belmont having different variants for various one turn distances.