"Real Quiet ran against short fields in his preps; it didn't keep him from coming within a nose of a Triple Crown."

But he wasn't helped by the short fields. Indian Charlie was the one who benefitted from being lone speed in the SA Derby. Real Quiet was forced to close into the slow pace IC set, and ran a great race at SA. Indian Charlie won the race but had the perfect trip. Real Quiet, to trip handicappers, ran the superior race. And he verified that when they met up again in Louisville.