One Iron please read this carefully. So far this bunch of three year olds when it comes to speed, "Is what it is".

I am not the first person to point this out in fact I am the second. Steven Crist did so in his Saturday column in the Daily Racing Form.

Below are the previous to the Derby Tops and the winning Derby Figures of the last six Derby winners. This is in the Archives so please verify if you like.

2001: Monarchos, Top-1/2-- Derby Fig-1/2
2002: War Emblem, Top-1-- Derby Fig-Neg 1/2
2003: Funny Cide, Top-1 1/2-- Derby Fig-1 1/2
2004: Smarty Jones, Top-Neg 3 3/4-- Derby Fig-Neg 1 3/4
2005: Giacomo, Top 4 1/2-- Derby Fig-1/2
2006: Barbaro, Top 1 1/2-- Derby Fig-Neg 2 1/2

The significance of the figures above and this years group of three year olds as they stand today is only three contenders have run as fast or faster than a 1 1/2.

Street Sense
Any Given Saturday
Curlin

Now here are the Derby Day odds of the above mentioned winners.

Odds on Derby Day

2001: Monarchos: 10.5-1
2002: War Emblem: 20.5-1
2003: Funny Cide: 12.8-1
2004: Smarty Jones: 4.1-1
2005: Giacomo: 50.3-1
2006: Barbaro: 6.1-1

The odds of these winners somewhat reflects the quality of the fields they faced from the standpoint there appeared to be several others as fast or even faster. Derby Day field size is also a large factor. Once again proving bigger is better.

Nevertheless to assume horses are faster than they have previously performed, when there is no most recent data indicating in fact they are faster, is presumptious.

At the point in time where this years group of three year olds start running fast times on fair race tracks is the point in time when they should and will start getting fast Speed Figures.