I know :p

If someone put a gun to my head, Creative Minister would be my pick. I like WTP a little more than you do, and I think Mo Donegal has a lot of foundation. Strangely enough, I wouldn’t mind if Rich Strike were to win. Obviously, I’m all over the place!

Agreed. Loved CD, just not sure he can duplicate else where.

Not only are the two tracks configured differently, the surfaces are very different.  Churchill Downs is HARD and shallow; there's almost no "cushion".  Belmont is deep. 

I remember during the 2003 Belmont when it poured rain for Funny Cide vs Empire Maker, it was a mess.  You sunk into the mud 6 inches or more with every step.  Churchill never gets that way.  It might get wet on top for an inch or two but you'll hit that rock hard bottom easily.

To beat Secretariat's 1 1/2 mile track record you'd need a fast enough horse and a track compacted down hard like Churchill Downs to help him out.  

+All

Beyond the Derby winner's surface switch montra Dogs has barked at the moon

...Derby winning jockey has 1 prep mount on Friday and Saturday. 

All jocks however have to know exactly where they are on the track and in the pace. 

There is a home team jock/track/distance advantage..

One mistake and the Derb winner entry becomes...

A Lost Easter Egg. (d)

I think Secretariat's Belmont record is safe in this version of the solar system.  In an alternate version, there may be another ending to the story.

I remember the 2003 Belmont.  It was a quagmire and I do not recall ever seeing the track quite that muddy.  That was a very short field, too.

Oh man. I think that was the year the grandstand toilets broke and everybody was inside because of the downpour outside. 

Sov said..."Oh man. I think that was the year the grandstand toilets broke and everybody was inside because of the downpour outside."

I was there and to pee, with the crowd and limited urnials...it was 2 to 1.

"Memories..."

What's worse was there was really no wind.