This is an example of why we pull our hair out with this game. Like you, I liked the fact that the 12 was a fighter and thought he had a very good chance. But I couldn't take him to win at 1:1, so I bet him on top of a longshot I thought had a chance to run 2nd, the 8, who was cutting back from 2 turns and had moved too soon last out. Well, the 8 ran 2nd at 38:1, just missing getting up as they hit the wire, and payed $31.40 to place. The 12 never picked its feet up.
Sometimes it goes that way.