This was the first time he was running against these kind of horses, and he had been off for a while. With the combination of the two, I really didn't know what to expect. He acted like he was getting a little tired at the top of the lane, but he switched leads and found another gear.
To picture him doing what he just accomplished? No. From 5½ to a mile and an eighth in a short period of time and beat the kind of horses he did, that's asking a lot.
He felt good, he acted like he always does and he actually left the gate wonderful. But when it came time to run he just wasn't there. He must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed.