Agree with you 100% P-Dub. It makes no sense to have a closer engage in an early dual with a speed horse. Any horse who acts as his own rabbit is just setting the race up for some other closer. Yes, it might get the speed horse beat, but also beat yourself in the process. Remember the Smarty Jones Belmont where Rock Hard Ten and Edington tried the same tactic and got their butts kicked? Sure you might spoil the chances of the speed horse, but what good does it do you if you end up beating yourself too?

I also agree that Bayern was no lead pipe cinch as he was likely to bounce after his monster Haskell effort as well as trying a new distance and surface. Better to let your horse run his best race against a less than sure thing than commit pace suicide.

Wicked Strong's rider didn't do himself any favors either by chasing that pace too as he was beaten by a fresh improving closer who was able to take advantage of the other riders dumb mistakes. WC actually did well to only get beat by a nose.

Maybe Beyer is right when he refers to jockeys as the little pinheads, though I suspect they were just riding to misguided instructions.

Bob