Tony Wrote:
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> CTC,
>
> I am just talking about past derby patterns and
> Brother Derek's pattern coming in compared to past
> derby contenders. Does not matter to me what he
> did last October.

Theres a handicapping technique that says to ignore 2-year old form. Just put an X through it. For the sake of argument lets say we are going to look at 2YO races just for chuckles.

Lets also not forget that October race was a one turn 8.5 marks. By the way, the fractions in that race at the Big Sandy were the fastest that Bro Derek had ever seen. Prior to that race Brother Derek went wire to wire in the Grade II Norfolk. Subsequent to that race Brother Derek has essentially gone wire to wire in each of his other starts. An uncontested wire to wire in his last start at 9 poles. After the finish line Dana666 says he pulled up like an old F-14 Tomcat latching onto an arresting cable. It may be he knows his job is to run as hard as he can to get out front and when the wire comes up he knows his job is over because no one is generally around him. But what does Dana know.

There are no handicapping absolutes. You may be able to ignore 2YO form many times. There are times you can't. It depends upon the totality of circumstances.

There are no shortcuts. There are no sure things.

Brother Derek has his hands full Derby Day. The wrong post could mean his demise.