"Don't disagree with the premise. Taking the contrary position for arguments sake, That Lane's End was a very poor looking field"

Chuck,

Poor field is being generous, more like a common bunch of garbage cans. Doubt seriously that any horse was juiced since the race was basically in slow motion.

Re Polytrack, I know many serious gamblers who will NOT bet on that surface. Wonder what will happen to the betting handle when more tracks put the stuff down.