Racing "Down" to Competition

[Robert MicJee]

I've heard there is the hidden "heart" factor in the sim and the factor of horses being pushed to higher speed figures, but can I assume that the opposite is also true?

My girl Me, Myself and I in a small Grade 2, coming off of a 93 speed figure in the Steward's Cup runs an 87 SF in this race https://www.simhorseracing.com/race.php?RaceID=1777251.
Her history of speed figures is 89-89-89-90-91-93. No surface preference.

Please note I use the term "down" in my subject line not to disrespect the horses she competed against, but in reference to the speed figures they put up in the race.

Can her 87 be mostly a matter of not being pushed by the other horses?

Curious!
Thanks

[Art K Stables]

possibly but I wouldn't put any weight on one single SF. if you see 2 or 3 SF in a row where there is a clear downturn in the numbers then its likely the horse has seen its better days but I doubt that's the case here. Though there are plenty of sprinting types who never repeat their 2yo success.. I own the one your horse loves to run against and is 2/3 for and she just ran 4th in her last race, her worse showing ever but I have seen far worse and they bounce back like it never happened. If she doesn't hit the board in her next race then I will start to wonder, but your horse could have had her not best running shoes on (or shall we say the randomness of the sim) and could have been vulnerable to tougher competition in that race, it could have been that as well. I am not sure that's ever been fleshed out and unless the steward has ever said something its all a guess

[Robert MicJee]

Thanks Art - that does all ring true - definitely not in a panic, just got me thinking as I watched the race and thought I'd put it out there as a curiosity for opinions!
Much appreciated!

[Tammy Stawicki]

I've definitely felt horses will race "down" to their competition.

[Andrew Chillin]

I’m a solid 90% sure, Em has said in a podcast that most horses will run fast enough to win. I take that to mean they’ll run slower if they don’t have to run fast, like your horse did here.

[Cleo Patra]

There’s a bounce factor too. If they run a huge race, they can throw an absolute stinker next out. Sometimes you can mitigate that a little with a 3 week break.

[The Steward]

Both the last two comments are true.

[Robert MicJee]

Thank you all for the input!