>As for the Exceller race, take a look at how "fast" they ran the last 6 furlongs-- nobody was coming back on anyone, they were having a lying down contest.<

That's what usually happens after a pace like that otherwise the final figure would have been a -22. :-)

Seriously, I don't even know what the speed figure was for that race. I still have my Racing Form at home though so I could check what figure I gave it. I was there that day, but I don't remember if there was any wind. Just that the track was a mess.

No matter, I think Slew's performance that day was breathtaking no matter what the final figure was. Execeller was one notch below being a champion caliber racehorse. He raced well off the pace, colored Slew at the quarter pole and could not put him away despite Slew's savage duel earlier.

If Birdstone was in that race he never would have gotten into contention.

If Eddington and RHT tried to stay with Slew on the backstretch they would have been 10 lengths behind in an all out duel just to stay that close. Slew would have been coasting to an easy victory.