An odd phenomenon, but the track was extremly greasy and deep in the lower half of the track. A horse that gets hung-out actually has the best footing under those conditions, and tires less. That might have been the answer.
I saw Ken "The Tobacco Spittin' Genius" Rutherford win a huge trotting stake race at Sportsmans once under those same conditions. He was 3 wide in the 1st turn, got to the the lead and didn't drop to the rail. Everyone else took the short route. He stayed in the 3 hole (as the announcer decried the bad drive) and drew away in the stretch to get all the cheese.