Your post brought back a memory of the Bayakoa-Go For Wand Distaff.

I was there that day. Lousy seats in the upper grandstand at the head of the stretch. Or so I thought until the disaster.

Bear in mind that GFW had had a tremendous season, hardly ever being headed in her series of races leading up to the BC. She was a dominant filly.

As they ran down the backstretch Bayakoa was tracking her, but not really pressing her, until midway through the turn. I had these Godawful big binoculars that day and I was able to see their pimples. As they came out of the turn,right below me, Bayakoa drew up alongside GFW and I could see GFW's eyes turn to the right and freeze in place...I swear it...a second later she was down.

I consider it a tribute to her gameness that she panicked at that point and took a bad step...who wouldn't? She was running all out and her came another horse cruising up alongside her with very little apparent effort...it took me back to the Ruffian - Foolish Pleasure match race, which I also attended, and the moment that the filly injured herself....right when Baeza gunned FP up alongside her.

That had to be a panic moment for Ruffian, who until then had never run against any horse with her speed.

I am not saying that she couldn't have won,but that it surely messed with her mind and her stride.