Its a combination of struggling for air and the way the horse is built. Some animals legs are built a certain way that makes it comfortable for them to race on the improper lead at certain stages of the race. This Street Sense has front bandages too, i can't imagine that's a positive handicapping angle.

Also, some horse's race on the incorrect lead thru heredity. I think Strike the Gold had problems changing leads being a son of Alydar who also was beaten numerous times by Affirmed because he didn't know how to change leadslate in races. STG was 'built' to be comfortable racing that way.

I believe STG switched leads late in the stretch in his Derby win and really kicked in when he did.

Street Sense actually switches leads turning for home and then flips back halfway down the lane.....where as a horse like Alydar never changed leads at all on most occasions.

Also, one last thing....although we are not privy to this type of videotape, seeing which lead a horse races on while on the backstretch may tell a different tale. When horses are on the backstretch, they are 'going easily' and not extended, so which lead they race on may be different from the lead they race on down the homestretch when heavy pressure is applied by the rider.

Being on the 'wrong' lead can't ever be a good thing. Its not necessarily bad depending on each individual horse's habits, but i can't imagine you can ever say its positive in any way.