But because of the traffic and moderate pace, his speed figure did not matter. Officially, Epicenter earned a 102 Beyer again. To Epicenter’s credit, he still rallied along the rail for a runner-up finish while losing by only 1 1/4 lengths to Early Voting, who faced no adversity. Joel Rosario took Epicenter to the rail and close to the rear, but the pace scenario did not pan out in his favor as Early Voting tracked moderate early fractions and went on to victory. Skippylongstocking herded Epicenter a few paths to the inside, where he became squeezed. Two weeks later in the Preakness, Epicenter’s mediocre break led to closing tactics again, and this time he found trouble because of the poor start. In terms of handicapping purposes, does it matter that Epicenter regressed to a 100? From showing patience in his new closing tactics and handling the move into a suicidal pace on the far turn, to holding off the Blue Grass winner Zandon for the entire stretch, Epicenter did almost everything right in the race except win and post a high speed figure. Epicenter lost by only 3/4 of a length and from a visual standpoint ran harder than he ever did at Fair Grounds, but he earned only a 100 Beyer for the runner-up effort. But in this situation, Epicenter surprisingly regressed on the Beyer scale. He then held off Zandon in the stretch, but Rich Strike closed for the win.įast-paced races tend to promote a fast time and speed figure. Epicenter made use of new closing tactics and made his move a touch too soon into the fast pace. Even though he did not win, Epicenter ran an excellent race in defeat because of the suicidal pace, and he disappointed only in terms of the final speed figure. Epicenter completed the 1 3/16-mile distance in 1:54.38, which set a track record, and he earned a career-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure.Īt this point, expectations were raised as Epicenter went into the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Steve Asmussen kept Epicenter at Fair Grounds, where he competed in the Louisiana Derby in his last prep race and used stalking tactics effectively to post his second win in a row. Epicenter took advantage of his lead in the right way. ![]() Slow Down Andy failed to make an impact in the Risen Star by finishing an even sixth, and he won the Sunland Derby (G3) in his next start.ĭoes it matter that Epicenter earned only a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for the Risen Star? Although he had an uncontested lead, he won by 2 3/4 lengths over Zandon and clearly defeated one of the strongest fields on the Derby trail. Tawny Port finished a closing fifth in the Risen Star, and he went on to run second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and capture the Lexington Stakes (G3). In their next starts, both Smile Happy and Zandon flattered Epicenter when Zandon took the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland by 2 1/2 lengths over Smile Happy in second. He deserves the most respect based on his form dating back to his Risen Star Stakes (G2) win at Fair Grounds in March.Įpicenter won the Risen Star by 2 3/4 lengths over Smile Happy in second and a troubled Zandon in third. But this is a unique situation where Epicenter’s stagnant speed figures are forgivable.
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