TGJB,

A "grinder" to me would be one of the horses that drops back to last or thereabouts and makes a steady close, maybe better than "steady" when the pace is hot enough. How many horses this year in the Derby had the same running style of dropping back to last and coming late. (13 or so of them - Suddenbreakingnews, MyManSam, NoTom, Lani, Creator, Trojan Nation, OScar Nominated, Whitmore, etc.etc

A "galloper" would be a horse with a high cruising speed that can run closer to the lead and click off 24 and change quarters. Palace Malice was that kind. First Dude didn't hang on, but was that kind. Union Rags and Rags to Riches both had that kind of tactical speed. As did Tonalist.

Sure, Victory Gallop was an exception and I don't need to watch the replay. That nose cost me a relative fortune and nightmares. But that kind of stirring finish from well off the pace is sort of the exception in the Belmont, isn't it?

Rob