I've looked at the chart for the entire Bluegrass card 2 dozen times now. The strip played equally well to wire types, pace types and closers Bluegrass Stakes Day. Arguably, as the day wore on it played to speed more. That fact and the closing fractions of the top two are the best evidence the race is legitimate. However, it was sandwiched around turf and cheap racing and the one race that was run in decent time was run four races earlier. I think the track was speeding up but the quality of racing was so pitiful it was hard to get a handle on the speed. Quality speed seemed to fair well. Cheap speed not so well.

However, I don't think Cliff closed into a monster pace horse and I don't think a great pace horse set fractions as ridiculously fast as some figures have indicated. Stupid fast...imbecile fast.

To my eye Rion ran the same race he ran in the San Rafael without as much pace to press him.

Year in and year out the figures from the Bluegrass are the most counterfeit in all of racing. I will be betting that the Bluegrass is once again a complete charade.

Good luck to the Bluegrass speed figure devotees. May you bet only what you can afford to lose and have plenty left to buy good beer (not guiness) to take the edge off.

:)

CtC