To fastspeed - Yes, it's that hard. I left my weathervane at home.

To O'Keefe - I agree on bias. Disagree on Saarland. If Johannesburg wins the Derby I'll buy you...a beer. I say no way. A mile and a quarter isn't a mile and a sixteenth. Not off one prep. Even against a 'weak' field (which I'm waiting to hear soon from someone), no way.

To Downey - I'd call the pace square, and moderate sounds good too. One ten and change for six furlongs at Aqueduct isn't slow.

I guess I'm starting to look forward to the First Derby Entries edition. Looks like a competitive race with a few bad short priced horses. HP