There are many formulas that can measure energy used and rate of velocity travel:
As you can see in the above diagram, there are many formulas but let's focus on the concept of "kinetic energy versus potential energy."
In this thread, let's refer to "potential energy" as the early pace expenditure of horses and let's refer to "kinetic energy" as the final time speed figures of horses.
Horses that can set a fast early pace with a respectable final fraction have more "potential energy" than "stone cold" closers. Horses like Liam's Map can control the pace of the race and if they can reserve early energy in setting the pace of the race; they can produce much faster final times or "kinetic energy" than horses like Honor Code who are at the mercy of the early pace or lack thereof.
Liam's Map has more "potential energy" than Honor Code once they produce the extreme early pace. Even though Liam's Map lost the Whitney Race against Honor Code. Liam's Map will always win the rematches or go on to win more races than horses like Honor Code.
Horses like Liam's Map expend more energy expenditures thus more abilities than horses like Honor Code. The ability to expend more energy expenditures is like a car engine with more "horsepower."
A speed figure that measures energy expenditures will be more useful in assessing a horse's ability than speed figures which is linear based and only measures estimated final times.