jagger wrote:Agree, geo. I think you have to go back 65 years to find a slower Preakness. Since the Preakness went to 1 3/16 miles in 1925, I think there were only a few dozen slower times in 90 chances. But, better than at least 2 Triple Crown winners is how some would look at it. Not me though. Perhaps the Derby and the Preakness times will put to rest all the hype about this year's crop being exceptional. He is just the best of a perhaps poorer than average crop.
Wow, very interesting and valid point. Before the times clicked in the Derby and Preakness, this group of sophomores looked like an outstanding group. Now it makes anyone ponder. Seems like one of two things: American Pharoah is a good horse with a good racing star, or his competition just got deflated.
Dortmund used to appear immense but now he looks a different horse. Firing Line ditto.
Still, I am still under the impression that this crop is better than what we are witnessing, but you are right, right now, they are performing sub-par. Should we wait until the Travers and Fall? Certainly we are witnessing a surprising outcome. But anyway, American Pharoah deserves his well earned merit for consistency since his juvenile season and no one can take that from him.