Interesting race to watch but unplayable unless you are betting Track Phantom to win. I personally don't think he is a world beater by any means but there is one huge advantage he has over the next four contenders, which are the
He could possibly be the lone speed in pedestrian fractions if the
doesn't push him, which we don't know. If that plays out the four I just mentioned are dead closers and the only hope for one of them to win is to pull what Blazing Sevens did in the Preakness and run up close to the lead. Yes, he lost the race but at least he had a chance, unlike Mage.
Now here is the problem! None of them are going to risk being near the lead for fear of falling apart and missing the Derby. That's right, all four of them will be content to sit back and finish second and punch their ticket to Louisville, their only goal. That makes Track Phantom tough to beat. We all know Asmussen isn't going to slit his own throat and have Hall of Fame pushing his stable mate. It is hard to bet any of these deep closers to win. We all saw the Tampa Derby and it is possible we can have a repeat of that pace.
