>Respect Fountaine's opinion, but don't understand how he still has First Sam at the top of his list...

Who has run faster? I doubt that anybody has.

The next race for First Sam will tell everyone a lot. As far as the BC Juvy goes that group is convinced the turnaround from the Champagne is what got'em not the competition. The really believe had they gotten another two weeks rest he would have won.

Having said that they also know they need to rattle off a 48 half or 1:12 six, something like that to get this horse geared down.

When Secretariat won the Derby he had been around two turns three times, one more time than First Sam will have when he walks in the gate on the First Saturday in May.

http://www.drf.com/misc/excerpts/secretariat.pdf