We see this in sale ads often. "Clocking 1D in Texas" for example. So, how much stiffer is the competition in Texas and surrounding areas? Could you, say, buy a 2D horse in Texas and go to California and consistently win in the 1D? Where are the toughest regions/states in your opinion? Do places out West or on the coast really not compare? Just a discussion topic I thought would be interesting to explore.. 

My personal opinion....all the "D" listings are totally dependant upon who is entered (and how many who's).  I think it's been said before...a true 1D horse will be that almost anywhere and almost anytime...barring the normal mistakes made by horse / rider.  

I'm out here in CA and I agree with the above poster, a true 1ad horse will win anywhere. Where I think the differences are is in numbers of those horses. You might have 2-5 really tough 1D horses ar a race out here ( let's say winning a race with a 17.1 on standard pattern) but in TX and close by , you might have 20 horses who run within a 1/10th of that. Hope that makes sense. But if you have one that's running 17.0 on standard, your going to get a check anywhere. Look at the NFR for example. In most rounds , the winning time and say 7th in the round are about half second apart. So even at the NFR you technically have 2D horses. Lol. 

I also agree that there are a lot of 1D horses out here in the local areas that their owners never will have the oppertunity to make a run for the NFR.  Because of money or background support.

I swear I read one time where Lisa Lockhart said something along the lines of "Louie is just the most successful 2D horse out there" Obviously I don't think of him as 2D in any stretch. 

I don't think a 2d horse in Texas is necessarily  likely going to bump up to 1d on the west coast. A lot of how a horse clocks has to do with ground conditions and size of the pattern. Out west the patterns are bigger and the ground is firmer. Texas, at jackpots, usually the ground is deeper and a smaller pattern. 
you've also got to consider if we're talking about a rodeo horse or a super show horse. There are a lot of winning rodeo horses will be in the 2d at a super show. 
also consider who and how the horse is being classified as a "2d" horse, is it's, local jackpots he may very well be a lot closer to a 3D horse at bigger stuff.

I remember being upset with myself not getting my gelding to be a true 1D horse untill I read that about Louie, LOL!!! Louie is exactly the horse I had in mind when I  really got serious about patterning my gelding, what I wanted his pattern to immulate.