Re: Risen Star Day Gold Rail? (695 Views)
Posted by:
BitPlayer (IP Logged)
Date: February 17, 2020 12:29PM
I've only done post mortems on the dirt stakes, but I don't see much evidence of a gold rail. Admittedly, the winners of both divisions of the Risen Star took the shortest way around, but saving ground will always be an advantage. The winners of the Mineshaft and Rachel Alexandra were both wide around at least one turn, and there were other stakes horses who seem to have run well relative to their tops with an outside trip. Jbelfior already pointed out Farmington Road in the first division of the Risen Star, and Major Fed also ran well in the second division.
Just anecdotally, the turf may be a different story. I have heard that the Fair Grounds is in the habit of keeping the rails out most days, and then taking them down on big days. That would seem likely to make the inside better on big days.