Only one horse has a triple digit Beyer figure at 9 furlongs this year and that runner is Goldencents. All the others are under 100. Its really very wide open for this years run for the roses.
Goldencents 105 SA Derby at 9 Furlongs
Orb 97 Fla Derby at 9 Furlongs
All others are under 97 at 9 furlongs.
beyer figures
Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster, K~2
beyer figs are decreasing for 3 year olds
For the last 4 years the Beyer figures have been declining in 9 furlong prep races. Last year the only triple digit beyer in a major 9 furlong prep was Bodemeister (108). The preps I looked at were the SA Derby, the Ark Derby, the Fla Derby, the La Derby, the Wood Memorial and Illinois Derby.
In 2011 there were no triple digit beyers for the 9 furlong prep races listed above.
In 2010 there were no triple Digit Beyer figs for the 9 furlong major preps.
In the years 2009 on back to 2003 there were typically around 3-5 horses that achieved triple digit Beyer figs in the above races at 9 furlongs.
It seems that the breed is so speed prone that the majority of thoroughbreds can no longer maintain stamina required to put up triple digit beyers at the 9 furlong distance in a major prep race.
Another explanation might be the owner-trainer new ideology of saving the energy for the big dance only and not let their charges go all out in any prep race. I remember last year when Union Rags was just hand ridden all the way in the Fla Derby and closed ground to get third. He was not allowed to run seriously in that event because he already had enough earnings to go to the Derby.
This year Goldencents needed to put up a big effort to get into the Derby gate so they asked him to run big in the Sa Derby. He achieved a 105 Beyer fig for the 9 furlongs. He is the only Derby horse to put up a triple digit Beyer fig in a 9 furlong prep race this year.
However, recent history is not kind to these types. Horses that have come into the Derby with the highest last out Beyer figure have only won the Derby once in the last 10 years since 2003. Big Brown in 2008 was the only one to achieve the roses with the highest last out Beyer fig (106).
Goldencents is possible but not for my money.
In 2011 there were no triple digit beyers for the 9 furlong prep races listed above.
In 2010 there were no triple Digit Beyer figs for the 9 furlong major preps.
In the years 2009 on back to 2003 there were typically around 3-5 horses that achieved triple digit Beyer figs in the above races at 9 furlongs.
It seems that the breed is so speed prone that the majority of thoroughbreds can no longer maintain stamina required to put up triple digit beyers at the 9 furlong distance in a major prep race.
Another explanation might be the owner-trainer new ideology of saving the energy for the big dance only and not let their charges go all out in any prep race. I remember last year when Union Rags was just hand ridden all the way in the Fla Derby and closed ground to get third. He was not allowed to run seriously in that event because he already had enough earnings to go to the Derby.
This year Goldencents needed to put up a big effort to get into the Derby gate so they asked him to run big in the Sa Derby. He achieved a 105 Beyer fig for the 9 furlongs. He is the only Derby horse to put up a triple digit Beyer fig in a 9 furlong prep race this year.
However, recent history is not kind to these types. Horses that have come into the Derby with the highest last out Beyer figure have only won the Derby once in the last 10 years since 2003. Big Brown in 2008 was the only one to achieve the roses with the highest last out Beyer fig (106).
Goldencents is possible but not for my money.