The 5th race at Santa Anita today demonstrated as well as any race the value of the balanced approach of the Handicap Wizard. In a five horse field of four-year olds and upward, Dukes Up at 5-2 defeated two favorites over 1 1/16 mi. on the main track, including Saint Dermot at 9-5 and Southern Freedom at 7-5. Despite not having the most speed in the race, with only a 19% probability to win in that category versus 32% and 34% of the other horses, Dukes Up’s superior winning percentage (39%) carried him home to victory. It goes to show that speed is not everything, and that winning percentage, adjusted for stakes, can more than compensate.
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