Wind speed? I didn’t consider wind speed. If my memory is accurate the clubhouse turn at Hallandale is the east side of the track. I know you can see the high-rise beachfront buildings when you look 3 o’clock. A seven thirty wind would be coming off the mainland. I remember most of the strong winds come off the water there. I’m assuming you mean a 2 o’clock wind or one “out of” or “from” 2 o’clock. Otherwise, assuming it was sufficiently strong to be a factor, the sprinters would have been running into it on the backstretch and even more directly into it on the turn, would they not? In other words they would have been running into it on their first two fractions. Yet it was the early fractions that were quick looking on 2/14. I have to assume you mean a wind out of the east. How an east wind equates to slower two turn fractions until the FOY I’ll leave for others to ponder. Though I do believe energy allocated early to fight wind is energy not in the tank later to take advantage of it. The two turn fractions were slowish but for the FOY.

Re: Sprints getting faster on the FOY card, here is the first sprint, won by a cheap horse 9K that had just broken maiden in a 45K claimer on his fourth attempt:

4 -3yo, NW1X, 7 marks :21.45, :43.48, 1:09.17, 1:22.86
10-3yo, 150K Stake, 7 marks :21.68, :43.73, 1:08.96, 1:22.23

Just above is the sprint won by Limehouse in which the fractions were set by Deputy Storm a fairly expensive horse 340K that had won The Tyro and finished 2nd in the Sapling after setting the fractions.

The slowest sprint of the day below was the final race. Though, I believe if he stays sound you’ll find the winner of this race will turn out to be the best of the Storm Cat grandkids that ran that day. I’m not sure how these results equate to the track speeding up on FOY day.

12-3yo, MSW, 6 marks :22.16, :45.14, :57.53, 1:10.09

The only route race that appeared out of line in my opinion was the FOY. But I don’t think it was because the track sped up. I don’t understand what you meant by stating that you did not break the FOY from the other routes despite the fact the track got faster. That is lost on me.

I’m glad you don’t make watering adjustments. The variables you spoke of were my concern. I’m not sure you have the equipment to take moisture readings but if you do I hope you can find a way for the tracks to see it’s worth their while for you to measure moisture. It could be provided to the grounds crew for maintenance purposes and made known to horsemen for safety considerations. Maybe that’s what they are afraid of.

By the way, you have been very courteous in regard to the subject matter and I'm sure you understand that assuming you're right you are not gonna convince me that I backed into my Fla. Derby score any more than I already did.

:)

CtC