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Blue Grass results. (Prices have been tough to find this year)

# Horse Win Place
4
Zandon $6.20 $3.20
10
Smile Happy - $3.20
 
No clue what it's paying but 3,4 EXB in SA is likely the safest bet of anything you do today

4 heavy on top if it's a stagger

Want to bet this race!
 
Hope we see something freaky here so we get a better price on Epicenter in 4 weeks.
 
I can’t help but feel bad for Baffert. He has the eye for the right horse, plus he knows how to get them ready to win the big ones. For Yakteen to get credit is just ridiculous.
 
I can’t help but feel bad for Baffert. He has the eye for the right horse, plus he knows how to get them ready to win the big ones. For Yakteen to get credit is just ridiculous.
You don't think Yakteen is paying him like an agent? He definitely is

Lots of people would have paid good money to get Baffert's horses for this run the next couple years. No doubt it went to the highest bidder.
 
Watched the race now 3 times...Messier was clearly in the position of protecting 2nd place as opposed to winning down the stretch. Very smart move.
 
You don't think Yakteen is paying him like an agent? He definitely is

Lots of people would have paid good money to get Baffert's horses for this run the next couple years. No doubt it went to the highest bidder.
I doubt he needs the 10%. The defamatory nature of this hurts much more, not just his accomplishments but also his future achievements. If Medina Spirit indeed got the steroid from an ointment to treat a rash, then I don’t think the punishment fits. East Coast just doesn’t want to think a quarter horse trainer can kick their ass year in and year out, it doesn’t matter which horse it is.
 
It's not like Life Is Good that went to Pletcher. These went to Bafferts former asst. It's a dog and pony show. Baffert is still involved 100% imo.
Of course he is, I never entertained the idea that he wouldn't be.

You aren't wealthy and the best in the business without being smart enough to find loopholes in virtually everything. You wouldn't be rich or smart if you couldn't.
 
I doubt he needs the 10%. The defamatory nature of this hurts much more, not just his accomplishments but also his future achievements. If Medina Spirit indeed got the steroid from an ointment to treat a rash, then I don’t think the punishment fits. East Coast just doesn’t want to think a quarter horse trainer can kick their ass year in and year out, it doesn’t matter which horse it is.
I do agree that for some obnoxious reason East Coast people have wanted to turn horse racing into this generation's Puff v Tupac, who cares? People getting killed all over the place and that's the concern, coast v coast regarding horses? We suck.
 
It's not like Life Is Good that went to Pletcher. These went to Bafferts former asst. It's a dog and pony show. Baffert is still involved 100% imo.
I’m sure he is involved, but will these owners keep going to him in the future? Only time will tell…
 
I hope you’re right. Down to earth guy and I truly believe he cares for the well being of his animals. I’ve run into him around town a few times… just seems like a nice guy.
Also let's be real, most people who own horses took a couple shortcuts here and there. They want to win.
 
He's an all-time great trainer. No doubt. Eye for a horse is unmatched. No way I'm trying to throw him in with the Navarros and Servis' of the world. Those guys are garbage.
 
Today's Best
Bench Coach $23.60 (2 winners)
jpfeck $21.60 (2 winners and a place)
SIGO $16.20 (1 winner and two place)

OVERALL STANDINGS
Bench Coach $56.20
Gandolf $49.40
KJ $35.40
jpfeck $26.60
aplous $26.00
SIGO $23.60
jimbo1311 $22.60
oakas $19.40
RetroVK $15.20
madshooter $13.40
Colin Wynner $12.20
slaptron $9.60
CPA-hole $9.40
chipnotized $7.40
Play2win $7.40
$0 - Augie, Vap's Back, The Farm

In four weeks we'll be back with the KENTUCKY DERBY, where things get kicked up a notch. We should see a full field of 20 to choose from, so payout prices are bound to be higher, and the wager amount DOUBLES to a $4 win/place bet. More options, higher prices, and a larger base bet means nobody is out of it!! See you in May!
 
Watched Tawny Port win on Sat, didn't realize these possible Derby horses would run again before the big race but I guess it makes sense, now clearly in the field.

Not sure where to discuss it but are there more this weekend trying to etch it in stone?
 
Watched Tawny Port win on Sat, didn't realize these possible Derby horses would run again before the big race but I guess it makes sense, now clearly in the field.

Not sure where to discuss it but are there more this weekend trying to etch it in stone?
Nope. That was the last race with derby points. It was a last ditch effort for those with only 20 points going to the winner.

So basically only horses not in the field already ran.
 
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Tawny Port ended up having enough points anyway but I guess they wanted to give him another race on dirt.
 
Nope. That was the last race with derby points. It was a last ditch effort for those with only 20 points going to the winner.

So basically only horses not in the field already ran.
Gotcha.

Confused then that after the race they said the owners have a decision to make. What decision assuming that's the only reason they ran the horse two weeks later?
 
Gotcha.

Confused then that after the race they said the owners have a decision to make. What decision assuming that's the only reason they ran the horse two weeks later?
Yeah. Not sure what decision they have now.
 
How long has he been juicing Marsski?
Busted at the Ky Derby with Medina Spirit. Busted at the Ark. Derby with Gamine and Charlatan. Justify was busted in 2018. Five medication violations since May 2020. 31 career violations. 75 dead horses since 2000. You want me to keep going?

How many times can the dog eat your homework? He's the Lance Armstrong of horse racing.
 
I think it’s fair to say the entire industry has a drug issue. Same day Lasix usage was a big step in the right direction. The need for a national set of rules on medications is needed. I think it’s safe to say almost every trainer has medicine violations. Calling him Lance Armstrong of horse racing is a bit harsh. For what it’s worth, Gamine and Charlatan dq’s were overturned in Arkansas.

I hope the sport can continue to make improvements in their policies and can nationalize the rules so it’s more black and white for everyone involved.
 
CURRENT DERBY STANDINGS (TOP 20 MAKE THE GATE)
1. Epicenter (Not This Time) 164 (Asmussen/Rosario)
2. Zandon (Upstart) 114 (C. Brown/Prat)
3. White Abarrio (Race Day) 112 (Joseph/Gallalione)
4. Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) 112 (Pletcher/I. Ortiz)
5. Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) 110 (McPeek/B. Hernandez)
6. Cyberknife (Gun Runner) 100 (Cox/Geroux)
7. Crown Pride-JPN (Reach the Crown) 100 (Shintani/Lemaire)
8. Taiba (Gun Runner) 100 (Yakteen/Smith)
9. Simplification (Not This Time) 74 (Sano/J. Ortiz)
10. Smile Happy (Runhappy) 70 (McPeek/Lanerie)
11. Tawny Port (Pioneerof The Nile) 60 (Cox/TBA)
12. Barber Road (Race Day) 58 (J. Ortiz/R. Gutierrez)
13. Un Ojo (Laoban) 54 (Courville/R. Vasquez)
14. Early Voting (Gun Runner) 50 (C. Brown/TBA)
15. Morello (Classic Empire) 50 (Asmussen/Lezcano)
16. Messier (Empire Maker) 40 (Yakteen/J. Velazquez)
17. Zozos (Munnings) 40 (Cox/TBA)
18. Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front) 40 (Seemar/Barzalona)
19. Charge It (Tapit) 40 (Pletcher/Saez)
20. Happy Jack (Oxbow) 30 (O'Neill/Bejarano)
----------------------------------------
21. Pioneer of Medina 25 (Pletcher)
22. In Due Time 24 (Breen)
23. Ethereal Road 22 (Lukas)
24. Rich Strike 21 (Reed)
25. Skippylongstocking 20 (Joseph)
26. Major General 18 (Pletcher)
27. Dash Attack 10 (McPeek)
28. Call Me Midnight 10 (Desormeaux)

I'm looking around for early PPs, haven't seen them yet. Should be available next week without post positions. Post positions get drawn on 5/2 with morning line odds to follow.
 
CURRENT DERBY STANDINGS (TOP 20 MAKE THE GATE)
1. Epicenter (Not This Time) 164 (Asmussen/Rosario)
2. Zandon (Upstart) 114 (C. Brown/Prat)
3. White Abarrio (Race Day) 112 (Joseph/Gallalione)
4. Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) 112 (Pletcher/I. Ortiz)
5. Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) 110 (McPeek/B. Hernandez)
6. Cyberknife (Gun Runner) 100 (Cox/Geroux)
7. Crown Pride-JPN (Reach the Crown) 100 (Shintani/Lemaire)
8. Taiba (Gun Runner) 100 (Yakteen/Smith)
9. Simplification (Not This Time) 74 (Sano/J. Ortiz)
10. Smile Happy (Runhappy) 70 (McPeek/Lanerie)
11. Tawny Port (Pioneerof The Nile) 60 (Cox/TBA)
12. Barber Road (Race Day) 58 (J. Ortiz/R. Gutierrez)
13. Un Ojo (Laoban) 54 (Courville/R. Vasquez)
14. Early Voting (Gun Runner) 50 (C. Brown/TBA)
15. Morello (Classic Empire) 50 (Asmussen/Lezcano)
16. Messier (Empire Maker) 40 (Yakteen/J. Velazquez)
17. Zozos (Munnings) 40 (Cox/TBA)
18. Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front) 40 (Seemar/Barzalona)
19. Charge It (Tapit) 40 (Pletcher/Saez)
20. Happy Jack (Oxbow) 30 (O'Neill/Bejarano)
----------------------------------------
21. Pioneer of Medina 25 (Pletcher)
22. In Due Time 24 (Breen)
23. Ethereal Road 22 (Lukas)
24. Rich Strike 21 (Reed)
25. Skippylongstocking 20 (Joseph)
26. Major General 18 (Pletcher)
27. Dash Attack 10 (McPeek)
28. Call Me Midnight 10 (Desormeaux)

I'm looking around for early PPs, haven't seen them yet. Should be available next week without post positions. Post positions get drawn on 5/2 with morning line odds to follow.

Screenshot_20220420-154947_Twitter.jpg

I found this on Twitter this morning but I can't get it to download.
 
3 horses looking for riders. Name jockeys looking for a Derby mount:

Javier Castellano
Manny Franco
Junior Alvarado
Kendrick Carmouche
Umberto Rispoli
Julian Leparoux
Mario Gutierrez
Dylan Davis
 
@Gandolf if you could walk me through horse betting just so I can get a little more acclimated I'd appreciate it. PM me and I'll give you my #. I don't know how you find these sites

Love horses and hanging out at the horsebook more than anything I just don't really know much and pretty much pick win/place/show on a horse. I read a lot of GameHunters Twitter posts but he doesn't give much detail

Understandable if you don't want to reach out and blow your time, just figured I'd ask so I can get better at it
 
The current top 20 sorted by running style and speed points:
Early/Front Runners (E)
Early Voting E8
Summer is Tomorrow (UAE winner)

Stalkers (EP)
Messier EP8
Epicenter EP7
White Abarrio EP6
Taiba EP6
Zozos EP6
Charge It EP6
Morello EP5
Cyberknife EP4
Simplification EP4
Un Ojo EP3

Pressers/Mid Pack (P)
Smile Happy P4
Tawny Port P2
Tiz the Bomb P2
Crown Pride (UAE winner)

Sustainers/Closers (S)
Zandon S3
Mo Donegal S2
Barber Road S2
Happy Jack S2

Looks like Early Voting, if he stays in, has a great chance to lead into the first turn
 
Since the Derby went to the points system, you get rid of the cheap speed types that have no chance of going a mile and a quarter and you can get some wire to wire winners.

Early Voting is a big key to the race if he ends up running or not.
 
Since the Derby went to the points system, you get rid of the cheap speed types that have no chance of going a mile and a quarter and you can get some wire to wire winners.

Early Voting is a big key to the race if he ends up running or not.
Kinda sucks, bust Derbys I remember involve watching the overhead trips the winners navigate when they start picking them off one by one
 
@Gandolf if you could walk me through horse betting just so I can get a little more acclimated I'd appreciate it. PM me and I'll give you my #. I don't know how you find these sites

Love horses and hanging out at the horsebook more than anything I just don't really know much and pretty much pick win/place/show on a horse. I read a lot of GameHunters Twitter posts but he doesn't give much detail

Understandable if you don't want to reach out and blow your time, just figured I'd ask so I can get better at it
Betting horses is not much different than other sports betting....you can put as much or as little time into research as you want. You can bet hunches, you can run mostly favorites or look for those live dogs. Instead of parlays we have Pick 3s, Pick 4s, etc., where you string multiple bets together. Instead of same game parlays we have exactas, trifectas and superfectas where you're picking the top 2, 3 or 4 finishers.

If you're talking about reviewing past performances, first you need to pick a type of past performance sheet. The four most popular are Daily Racing Form (by far the most popular), Timeform, Brisnet and Equibase. They all offer the same basic info (Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Horse's record, speed ratings (all 3 have different numbers), running line for each of the last 10 races, etc.) and then a few things special to their sheets.

I prefer Brisnet for a few reasons:
1) you can find them online for free. Go to Cindy Pierson Dulay's website, she has past performances sorted by trainers, some sires, and some larger stables. Sometimes you need to click, go back, click again to get to the info, depending on your operating system. I guess they do that to discourage the lazy.

Finding specific races is not as easy as it used to be. In the past WhoBet used to curate all the public pps and sort them by track. Now I go to Equibase, go to their entries page and look at trainers and sires to figure out where to find the races on Cindy's list. Luckily many of the big trainers (Chad, Todd, Cox, Baffert, O'Neil, Mott, Rice, Romans, Ward) allow direct access for the races they've entered. The big track races are usually easy enough to find.

2) they have a library at http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/static.cgi?page=library where they tell you everything they have on their pps and what it means from a racing standpoint. It is an invaluable resource.

3) I really like their measures on running styles (great for visualizing how a race will unfold), race pace (great for 2 turn races) and class (great for turf races) as something to consider in addition to speed numbers.

As far as how to pick horses, there have been dozens of books written on the subject. Very briefly, what you're trying to do is two things: 1) measuring the potential of each horse and 2) figuring out how likely it is that the best half of those horses can run to their potential in that race.

There are countless tips and rules of thumb to consider. Among my favorites:

1) Pace makes the race - to me that means if their are too many early speed horses in the race, the closers come into play. Otherwise its highly likely the winner will spend the whole race within 3 or so lengths of the lead.
2) Turf races are about class and closing - turf races often run slow early with everyone waiting to make moves on the far turn and stretch. Horses with proven class and late running ability tend to do well.
3) Be wary of favorites trying to do something for the first time - new equipment, new jockey, stretching out, switching surfaces, etc. all question marks that can make the favorite (who only wins about a third of the time anyway) vulnerable
4) Claiming races are as much about angles as they are potential - find horses in the top half of the field that have changes that could raise their effort (new trainer, cutback in distance, sharp work, blinkers on or off, new to lasix, etc.)
5) When nothing looks special, go with the unknown - especially true with maidens and maiden claimers, shippers, surface switchers. If what you see on paper doesn't appeal, then the unknown horses are worth an extra look

I like to budget 15 to 30 minutes on race analysis. Some don't like to spend that kind of time. To each their own.
 
Since the Derby went to the points system, you get rid of the cheap speed types that have no chance of going a mile and a quarter and you can get some wire to wire winners.

Early Voting is a big key to the race if he ends up running or not.
Only Derby I ever went to was the one won by I'll Have Another, and I remember sprinter Trinniberg was in the field and pressed Bodemeister the first 3/4 mile. Bodemeister went sub 23 and sub 46 and still finished 2nd. Great horse.
 
I used to do meadowlands harness every saturday years ago (a small donation back to the casinos). I found it invaluable to watch all the races. I could tell good and bad trips far better from having watched the previous weeks race than by the racing form sheets which I, of course, also used. I took about 20 minutes to handicap and then I watched the odds board from there to determine where the values were. As we all know, it isn't actually about picking the best horse, it is about picking the best value. The one scenario that really hurt me was the bet down shit horse which won a lot and which I could rarely bet as it would appear on paper to me that the horse wasn't good enough at the bet down odds while the other horses odds rose giving them value. But usually that bet down horse was because the farm knew something that wasn't present in the form I was using and knew the horse was ready. In any event, that was the one type of race that I really struggled with over the years, to the point when there was a slow horse bet to favorite, I just avoided the race altogether. Some people at the sportsbook thought these were "rigged" races and given the history of horse racing that was certainly possible but I think it was more about information known to some but not the general public. Shrug.

It is probably the most fun handicap. Baseball is also a fun handicap, but I was willing to lose a little on the races because of how fun it was (saved the bigger losing for sports). The house take is tough to overcome in this sport.
 
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Betting horses is not much different than other sports betting....you can put as much or as little time into research as you want. You can bet hunches, you can run mostly favorites or look for those live dogs. Instead of parlays we have Pick 3s, Pick 4s, etc., where you string multiple bets together. Instead of same game parlays we have exactas, trifectas and superfectas where you're picking the top 2, 3 or 4 finishers.

If you're talking about reviewing past performances, first you need to pick a type of past performance sheet. The four most popular are Daily Racing Form (by far the most popular), Timeform, Brisnet and Equibase. They all offer the same basic info (Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Horse's record, speed ratings (all 3 have different numbers), running line for each of the last 10 races, etc.) and then a few things special to their sheets.

I prefer Brisnet for a few reasons:
1) you can find them online for free. Go to Cindy Pierson Dulay's website, she has past performances sorted by trainers, some sires, and some larger stables. Sometimes you need to click, go back, click again to get to the info, depending on your operating system. I guess they do that to discourage the lazy.

Finding specific races is not as easy as it used to be. In the past WhoBet used to curate all the public pps and sort them by track. Now I go to Equibase, go to their entries page and look at trainers and sires to figure out where to find the races on Cindy's list. Luckily many of the big trainers (Chad, Todd, Cox, Baffert, O'Neil, Mott, Rice, Romans, Ward) allow direct access for the races they've entered. The big track races are usually easy enough to find.

2) they have a library at http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/static.cgi?page=library where they tell you everything they have on their pps and what it means from a racing standpoint. It is an invaluable resource.

3) I really like their measures on running styles (great for visualizing how a race will unfold), race pace (great for 2 turn races) and class (great for turf races) as something to consider in addition to speed numbers.

As far as how to pick horses, there have been dozens of books written on the subject. Very briefly, what you're trying to do is two things: 1) measuring the potential of each horse and 2) figuring out how likely it is that the best half of those horses can run to their potential in that race.

There are countless tips and rules of thumb to consider. Among my favorites:

1) Pace makes the race - to me that means if their are too many early speed horses in the race, the closers come into play. Otherwise its highly likely the winner will spend the whole race within 3 or so lengths of the lead.
2) Turf races are about class and closing - turf races often run slow early with everyone waiting to make moves on the far turn and stretch. Horses with proven class and late running ability tend to do well.
3) Be wary of favorites trying to do something for the first time - new equipment, new jockey, stretching out, switching surfaces, etc. all question marks that can make the favorite (who only wins about a third of the time anyway) vulnerable
4) Claiming races are as much about angles as they are potential - find horses in the top half of the field that have changes that could raise their effort (new trainer, cutback in distance, sharp work, blinkers on or off, new to lasix, etc.)
5) When nothing looks special, go with the unknown - especially true with maidens and maiden claimers, shippers, surface switchers. If what you see on paper doesn't appeal, then the unknown horses are worth an extra look

I like to budget 15 to 30 minutes on race analysis. Some don't like to spend that kind of time. To each their own.
Thanks bud. I buy the sheets at the casino but I get way too confused on the 1st around turn, 3rd around 2nd, etc. I'm gonna print out your post and bring it with me tomorrow when I go
 
I think it’s fair to say the entire industry has a drug issue. Same day Lasix usage was a big step in the right direction. The need for a national set of rules on medications is needed. I think it’s safe to say almost every trainer has medicine violations. Calling him Lance Armstrong of horse racing is a bit harsh. For what it’s worth, Gamine and Charlatan dq’s were overturned in Arkansas.

I hope the sport can continue to make improvements in their policies and can nationalize the rules so it’s more black and white for everyone involved.
1st sentence
 
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