New Polytrack Surface Adds Intrigue for the Kentucky Derby
Released on: April 26, 2008, 4:50 pm
Press Release Author: Nina Pendleton
Industry: Entertainment
Press Release Summary: New Polytrack racing surface leaves multiple questions leading up to the "Run for the Roses"
Press Release Body: San Jose, Costa Rica - Online sports and Live Dealer gaming website LazerWager.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 26, 2008
The 134th edition of the Kentucky Derby will be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 3, 2008 and a full field of 20 runners is expected to fill the starting gate. While the "Run for the Roses" is draped in history and tradition, this will be the first time in 134 years that the Polytrack surface will play a major role for the horses, trainers and handicappers. This year 30%, (13 of 43) of recognized Derby prep races were run over a synthetic surface. "It will certainly make it harder for the betting public to pick the winner. In past years, every prep race leading up to the Derby was run on the dirt, however, this year several prep races were run over the Polytrack surface and the bettors will have to factor that in," said Dan DelGato, director of operations at LazerWager.com, a sports, casino and entertainment website.
Polytrack is a brand of synthetic surface that was originally introduced back in the late 1980s in England. It combines new and recycled products, including silica sand, synthetic fibers and rubber, which are all blended together with a wax coating. The surface requires less maintenance and provides a softer, kinder cushion for both horse and rider by absorbing the impact and weight. These materials allow rain to flow through the top layer and drain into the sub-layers, keeping the surface dry and more consistent. Most jockeys agree that the synthetic surface falls somewhere between conventional dirt and turf surfaces.
One of the prep races run on a synthetic surface was the Blue Grass stakes at Keeneland on April 12. Before running in the Blue Grass, Pyro was the most consistent 3-year-old of his crop, never finishing worse than third during his six career races (all run over conventional dirt tracks). He went off as the Blue Grass favorite, but never made a run and finished in 10th place. After the poor effort, his trainer Steve Asmussen told reporters, "I'm pretty confident it was simply the surface, the horse came out of it in good shape. Watching the race, he wasn't going anywhere at any point. He wasn't himself from the first step."
"After Pyro's disappointing finish in the Blue Grass and Big Brown's victory in the Florida Derby, our players' money flooded in on Big Brown making him the 2 to 1 favorite," said DelGato. Currently, LazerWager has the following odds available: Big Brown favored at +200 (2 to 1), followed by Colonel John +500, Pyro +600, Z Fortune +1400, Court Vision and Gayego +1500, Monba, Recapture the Glory and Adriano +1800.
The remainder of the field can be played at +2000 (20 to 1) or higher. "Interestingly, our players love Colonel John and have made him our second choice, but he's raced exclusively on the Polytrack in California and who knows how he'll perform on the Churchill dirt," questioned DelGato.
"You have to treat the Polytrack results the exact same way you would races run on the turf. just toss them out when selecting the Derby winner. Don't forget about last year's Blue Grass Stakes when Street Sense was the big favorite, but lost to long shot, Dominican," stated DelGato. Four weeks after the two colts faced each other on Keeneland's Polytrack, Street Sense turned the tables by winning the 133rd Kentucky Derby on the dirt while Dominican subsequently finished a well beaten 11th. Horses have bad days just like all athletes, but sometimes a dislike for the racing surface might be the explanation for such a poor performance.
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For more info contact Ms. Pendleton at pr@lazerwager.com
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