Are we talking about his first race or yesterday's race??? I guarantee he bled in yesterday's race; he didn't have the same late surge he displayed in his first start. Additionally, the track was so screwed up yesterday, very cuppy and hard to get a hold of that closers were at a distinct disadvantage, and he came from almost last early. I wouldn't put too much stock in yesterday's race.

I believe in this case where a horse goes long the first time and doesn't use lasix, a big number first time out wouldn't knock them dead, like a sprinter who soon after is asked to stretch out -- this is a different story. This horse is very mature physically and Biancone took his time getting him to the races - a bounce would not be a valid excuse for this guy's losing effort yesterday. The horse who won (or should I say was placed first is a legit runner, too) though I'll say it was one of the strangest run races I've ever seen. I've never seen a horse like Spanky Came Home bolting and then rebreaking in the middle of the track and still finishing -- strange race all around.