Archive for August 2018

Tourney Talk- Stewards Screw Optometrist, Need Optometrist

Saturday’s featured “Big Bucks” event on Horsetourneys came down to the last race, and then still couldn’t be decided.  That’s because the contest finale was the 13th at Saratoga, which had to go to the video tape for a stewards review after #4-A I Initiative crossed the wire second but appeared at first glance to…

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Tourney Talk- DRF’s Saturday slate will get my action

As a rule, I am mostly against trying to qualify for a tournament that you are able to buy your way into.  My logic is that unless you consistently find yourself at or near the top 10% of the leaderboard, the takeout of qualifiers makes them not the best financial option.  However, if you think…

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Telekinesis is the play of the weekend

You have to go back to his first career start, in February at the Fair Grounds, to find the last time Telekinesis tried sprinting.  He won that day, defeating seven foes to record a Beyer Speed Figure of 90, and would then go on to make four consecutive route starts.  Telekinesis was run down late…

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To Future Wager, Or Not To Future Wager?

I distinctly remember calling a buddy in Las Vegas in August of 2004 and asking him to place a wager on Ghostzapper to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.  He drove to the nearest sportsbook, and called me to say he was being offered at 10-1.  I was stunned.  “Can you try another sportbook?” I asked.…

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Deep Travers

I know a number of people are disappointed that Hofburg got sick and can’t run, but this Travers field is exceptionally deep and competitive.  It’s not that hard to make a case for the majority of the field, and as a bettor, I can easily see my top three picks completely missing the exacta. The…

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Lightning Fast

If you don’t see yourself betting on an American in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but aren’t yet ready to hand the race to the sophomore filly Alpha Centauri, might I suggest spending a few moments and familiarizing yourself with a 7yo by the name of Lightning Spear? Some background.  He made one start at age…

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Tourney Talk- New Live Money NHC Events

Have you seen the news?  There was an announcement from the NTRA today that three new NHC Super Qualifiers have been added to the tournament schedule.  Each event has a $1,500 entry fee, with $1,000 standing as the player’s bankroll, $200 to the cash prize pool, and $300 going to cover the cost of the…

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Some thoughts on Drayden’s accomplishment

Ordinarily, I am not the slightest bit interested in human achievement stories in horse racing.  I roll my eyes whenever we see a trainer holding up a sign in the winner’s circle commemorating his eleventy billionth win at Churchill Downs or wherever.  And it seems like we get a new one every few days.  This…

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Hot Saturday Action

For starters, I think I have accepted the fact that this Saratoga meet just doesn’t want to be my friend.  It happens.  Other than one, lonely cold double that I hit while traveling back from Del Mar, I just haven’t made the big score that I’ve been able to make in past years.  With Travers…

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