David,
Validate for yourself what anyone else says. IMO, Spec mode works just as well as Val mode, all distances, all surfaces. Anyone who has August 3 Woodbine card, please review the Breeders Stakes 12f Turf. $20.00 winner was in the top 2 BLBL, using all Turf lines from horses' entire PPs. (Ask me how I know

)
One example does not a rule make, but I would sure be interested in seeing a 10 race sample of longer Turf routes where Val mode exceeded the predictablilty of Spec mode.
Ted