Figure Makers

[TGJB]

To those who don\'t believe tracks change speed or that you can use a formula when it does, good luck doing last weekend\'s races.

To the rest of us, who have to deal with the small fields, half the  horses \"X\'ing and changing tracks, first bottle of antacids is on me.

[FrankD.]

So that explains why you were up and posting at 700 AM the other day.I figured the Wood would be a nightmare !!!

[ajkreider]

You mean, you\'re reluctant to give the maiden off the turf winner at Santa Anita a negative 3?

[mjellish]

Don\'t envy you at all.  At least you aren\'t like most and have a failure of nerve/common sense.  In hindsight, you\'ve more or less been the only one who seems to get the Wood right the past few years IMO.

Brings up an interesting side note.  Why is it that the Wood is never a straight forward day?  Seems over the past 10 years at least 7 or so have been outright strange, especially with the internal fractions.  I know I can\'t make sense of it.  Find it hard to believe that the wind is just that tricky, that day, nearly every year.  But that\'s the best explanation I have come up with.

[TGJB]

This year it was relatively straightforward, but you\'re right, and not just the last ten years. When FuPeg won Friedman and I had a posting war about the day, the race, and changing track speeds in general, because the track was sealed and unsealed during the card. That was the first straightforward public example of the differences in methodology, I think Chiluuki\'s maiden win was the second (Silver?).

[Beginner]

Obviously not a figure maker and I know TG has its own people on track for this, but I will say the Woods that I have attended (last 5) have been subjected to crazy weather/wind. I\'ve taken my kids and had to bundle them up like it\'s the middle of winter - not early April.  The wind swirls and gusts like crazy (at least from track side).  Feels like it\'s coming right off the Atlantic instead of Jamaica Bay.  Good luck with the figs!

[Silver Charm]

There have been so many figure making debates on here over the years I have lost count...lol. You might have to bring back Alydar in California, Chuckles the Clown II, Mark@ and Indulto to fully confirm this one.

For those who don\'t know or were not around Chilukki \"aired\" as a well meant first timer first race on Monday Derby Week. The field was full of first time starters so no figure could be based on anything and she tied the track record to add to the confusion. With showers looming the track was very tight by maintenance crew. By the 3rd race it was pouring, by the 5th it was a drizzle and sealed like fresh concrete.  

The Ragozin Shop gave Chilukki a 6 the same figure they gave Charismatic who later that week won the Derby. Beyer gave her a 106. Now this is a 2YO Filly in April. Thorograph gave the race a \"box\". Meaning no figure. Over the course of debates the Ragozin guys did admit the track speed probably did change severla times that day but it only happens when it rains. (Really?) And regardless they got the day right. (Really?)

[Gerard]

Think the last 11 or so were 4 weeks out from the derby and closer to the closing of the winter track. Early April is rough from a weather standpoint down by that bay. One week may not seem like much of a difference, but when it was three weeks out, it seemed to be another world. And when it was two weeks out, oh well. Now that the Bluegrass is back on conventional and also four weeks out, it\'ll be interesting to see how the Wood draws going forward. With the bounce not so much an affect out of the Ark. Derby these last few years, maybe time to consider moving it back to the three weeks.