Both of the following races run at a mile and one eighth.

The Wood Memorial 23.86, 47.75, 1:11.59, 1:35.63, 1:47.96 Track Condition Fast. The pace here was contested by both A.P's Secret and Barese. Eary Voting hustled to the lead and even Golden Code was only 2 back. Picture a pack of 4 actually racing the first 6F at which time Early voting separated by two lengths only to be caught by the freight train called Mo Donegal. Note - IMO Mo Donegal doesn't win that race without getting through so cleanly on the rail as he did. Consider a contested pace takes more energy generally than loping along on the lead alone.

Wood Memorial Video

The Withers 23.57, 48.04, 1:14.29, 1:41.75, 1:55.90 Track Condition Muddy Early Voting led by 2 @ 1/2 meaning the 2nd place horse ran 50+ and by 3 1/2 @ 6F so the 2nd place horse nearly 1:18. This is a case where the track is slow so the raw time doesn't reveal how fast the pace was but the separation is a clue.

Withers Stakes Video

Some BRIS PP's include pace figures and theirs consider Early Voting to be significantly fastest to the pace call. Both the Wood and Withers suggest to me the colt hasn't learned to rate or alternatively the strategy of his connections c/b to run the competition off it's feet ala Bullet-Bob. We just saw a Kentucky Derby that was an example of a horse can't go balls to the wall for the entire race and there's a fine line between collapse and enduring.

I believe TG race shapes are based on position while so-called pace figures are based on time.

The Bottom Line in reviewing these two races Early Voting impresses causing me to reconsider my earlier thoughts.