Although I think pace is overrated, I think a lot of those horses that who bounced badly in the 2001 Kentucky Derby did so because they got caught up in the absurd pace that year. I do not recall where Millenium Wind raced, but Balto Star and Song and a Prayer were definitely hammer and tongs out of the gate and their awful figs in the Derby can be excused. In a recent post, I also pointed out how that pace even snagged Point Given who as 5 lengths back in the early going (but also 5 lanes wide on the turn) and his off effort can be explained that way (it is a lot better explanation than that Baffert did a poor job preparing him for the Derby).