This race was notable to me for several reasons:

1) The 2nd, 3rd, 4th. & 5th finishers each won their finish position by a nose. Several more within another length back. Very much a blanket finish.

2) Local bettors probably hadn't seen the winner race before and imho his pattern is muddied because of his running style. As a deep closer, he is often bobbing and weaving when the real running starts. Credit to jockey Pratt finding a seam to pop through.

3) The TG selection of Diamond Ooops as the key turned out great and the fact the horse had never won on the grass insignificant. Turf sprinters stretching out are problematic but a closer getting close at 5F gives me more confidence than does a front runner just hanging on for a win at the same distance.

4) Like Joe B. I respect TG turf #'s, yet doesn't it have to be that #'s for US horses are more accurate than those for imports. Take the 3rd place finisher Suedois. Do we again explain it away as a 1st-time Lasix story? That said, still, hands down, the best available.

All in all a fascinating race for me. Horses coming from all over to meet in the Heartland and the locals came out second best. The NY invader from the mighty Chad Brown stable fizzled and in hindsight was a terrible underlay. That's different not that he was overbet but that he didn't contend.

Good practice for the BC!