1-- Much more on moisture content/track speed relationship when we put up the expo presentation, but yes there is one, and no, we do not make a mechanical adjustment for "track watered"-- there are too many interlocking variables, like soil content, humidity, water content when the day starts (the same track can get faster or slower with more water depending on soil content, cushion depth, and how much water was in it before that), sun, wind, etc. But we started to keep track of it a while back, because days with irregular watering (which turns out to be lots of places) mean variations in water content and often track speed throughout the day. So far GP seems to be one of the few that speeds up with less water, but I have no idea of what that means. Yet. And possibly ever, unless we start getting race by race moisture content readings. Since we can't even get the weights of the horses I'm not holding my breath.

2-- On 2/14 there was a 7-8 o' clock wind throughout the day (think of looking down at the track, with the clubhouse turn being 3 o'clock), which made for faster sprint fractions and final times, slower 2 turn fractions. Haven't seen 3/13 yet.

We did have the track for the FOY faster than for the other routes. But we didn't pull the race loose (the track was getting faster late in the card, in this case both sprints and routes), and the race itself was solid.

3-- John's comment about Trust N Luck was about the similarity in their sheets going into the Florida Derby, not about the ability of either. The idea being that showing a LOT of ability early cooked both. We'll see.



TGJB