JB with complete respect I am not impugning any figure maker. My point, apparently weakly stated, is that come from behind turf horse are at a SEVERE disadvantage when the rail is up. I've posted here ad nauseum on why and will leave interested parties to do their own research.

No question turf animals run tighter figures, but that is not the whole story. When the rail is up, the pace is slower (horse run slower around turns) and therefore it is extremely difficult to close ground.

Although this assertion (I prefer tenet) has held for the fifty some years I have been playing, a glance at this weekends Delmar turf heats contains some germane results.

WITH A TWIST won her last with a big rail, 24 feet, moved up a class she gets the hedge and wins easy.

FAMILY MEETING wins in Baltimore with a tough trip. Rail at 87 feet and well wide. Ships to the left coast as the slowest horse in the race, by most figure makers, gets the hedge and pays $76.

CHIROPRACTOR caught the rail up his last pair. Nothin at 17-10, then a good race against older. Saturday this one gets back to sophs, gets the hedge and returns some $30.

STORMY LUCY comes out of the Goldikova with the rail up, the race flips she has no chance, gets the hedge Sunday and gets up at 65-1.

Bottom line, betting figures without regard to configuration, is actual nonsense. Thanks for letting me post here.

bbb