Continuing the discussion of the “Early Speed” notation, they are to be used in understanding the potential positioning at the 4 furlong pole.   Not out of the gate!!!   Very often a horse that has been out of form or off a layoff will come back to the races and take off out of the gate.  Maybe having never shown early lick before, but they can be in the race to get some of there own conditioning and end up playing spoiler to another who is running early to get winning position.   This happens all the time, it’s one of the reasons, I evaluate early speed after I make my best guess on the overall conditioning of the horse.  Once I feel like I’m looking at a horse who can win on his own merit, then I try to understand how the race shape is going to effect him.  So when I look at the Early Speed notations of “1” or “2”, I see them as assets that should help my horses handle whatever is thrown at him.    It always appeals to me, when I bet a horse with a “1” who rates kindly and then kicks butt in the stretch…going to the front only matters at the finish line…