You stated that you thought that the preparation would be subpar with horses in claiming races since they would run the risk of losing the horse. But aren't those horses entered in claiming races exactly for that purpose, that the owner wants to get rid of the horse? They would actually want to have them even better prepared, it seems to me. No?
Quote: terapinedYou might want to bet on races with higher purses then claiming races. Higher purses would be Stakes races and allowance races. Any stakes race, jockeys, owners, trainers really prepare the horse well for the race due to the amount of money that can be won. I am always a bit suspicious of cheap claiming races. How much preparation and trainer attention does a claimer get, probably not much because owner and trainer always run the risk of losing that horse every race if another trainer decides to put in a claim.
Stakes and allowance racing are the most difficult races to handicap and comprise maybe 15% of all races. Those races are simply more contentious. In claiming races, there's a significant talent disparity, where, in most cases less than half of the field has a realistic shot at winning the race. Many horses are entered just to fill the race, or in for a workout. It's all about finding "live" horses, an acquired skill, that can only be gain through experience.
So in the 2nd. Alternate picks, we are replacing Breaking Ball with #8, Dancing Rock.
Today's Results:
Race # Original
1 La Pinata -$10.00 3rd
2 0 $0.00
3 Frontier Days -$10.00 6th
4 0 $0.00
5 Peso -$10.00 2nd
6 0 $0.00
7 Imposing Grace $86.00 1st
8 Commando Kat $365.00 1st
9 Hattaash -$10.00 6th
10 Brown Almighty -$10.00
11 Abby's Slew -$10.00
$391.00
Race # 1st. Alternate:
1 Little Kinkaid -$10.00 6th
2 Misty Castle -$10.00 3rd
3 Bin Elusive -$10.00 2nd
4 Mindy Can Dance $6.00 1st
5 Piratesinparadise -$10.00 3rd
6 Sugar Spun -$10.00 7th
7 Lotta Lovin -$10.00 3rd
8 Double Silver -$10.00 11th
9 Seruni -$10.00 4th
10 Fordubai -$10.00
11 Mission Storm -$10.00 2nd
-$94.00
Race # 2nd. Alternate:
1 0 $0.00
2 0 $0.00
3 0 $0.00
4 0 $0.00
5 Dancing Rock -$10.00 6th
6 0 $0.00
7 0 $0.00
8 0 $0.00
9 All Stormy -$10.00 8th
10 0 $0.00
11 Coaming -$10.00
-$30.00
Grand Total $267.00
The other point - Sometimes owners/trainers want their horse claimed. Sometimes not. You just gotta figure out when.
Arlington Park for 05/26/13
Race # Original
1 Arrested by Duffy
2 0
3 Fab a Dasher
4 Perfect Step
5 Yankee Injunuity
6 0
7 Bella Serenade
8 Red Rose Cat
9 0
10
Race # 1st. Alternate:
1 Queen of Scioto
2 Vino Limbo Tango
3 Quality Diplomat
4 Miss Julia
5 0
6 Silver Encore
7 Oskee Wow Wow
8 Sporting Holiday
9 Appltatacorntamata
10
Race # 2nd. Alternate:
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 Richieslildarling
5 Pirates Vow
6 0
7 Milestonemissile
8 0
9 0
10
Race # Original
1 Arrested by Duffy -$10.00 3rd
2 0 $0.00
3 Fab a Dasher -$10.00 7th
4 Perfect Step -$10.00 5th
5 Yankee Injunuity -$10.00 2nd
6 0 $0.00
7 Bella Serenade -$10.00 4th
8 Red Rose Cat -$10.00 8th
9 0 $0.00
10
-$60.00
Race # 1st. Alternate:
1 Queen of Scioto -$10.00 2nd
2 Vino Limbo Tango $22.00 1st
3 Quality Diplomat -$10.00 2nd
4 Miss Julia -$10.00 3rd
5 0 $0.00
6 Silver Encore $11.00 1st
7 Oskee Wow Wow -$10.00 5th
8 Sporting Holiday $21.00 1st
9 Appltatacorntamata -$10.00 2nd.
10
$4.00
Race # 2nd. Alternate:
1 0 $0.00
2 0 $0.00
3 0 $0.00
4 Richieslildarling -$10.00 7th
5 Pirates Vow $79.00 1st
6 0 $0.00
7 Milestonemissile -$10.00 8th
8 0 $0.00
9 0 $0.00
10
$59.00
Grand Total $3.00
Original +$27
1st. Alternate -$199
2nd. Alternate +$59.40
2nd. Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$120.40
Arlington Park for 05/27/13
Race # Original
1 0
2 Lock N Lola
3 Richysthunderingal
4 Twylas Red Cat
5 Macho Coach
6 Bingorun
7 Hughes the Daddy
8 Hungry Wildcat
9 0
10
Race # 1st. Alternate:
1 Chica Silver
2 Trac N Jam
3 0
4 Nolan's Territory
5 Eleven Final Fours
6 Grand Silver
7 0
8 Izzy Golden
9 Rope Dancer
10
Race # 2nd. Alternate:
1 0
2 Broken Trust Fund
3 Wild Pantera
4 0
5 Ultimate X.
6 0
7 0
8 Ha Long Bay
9 0
10
I've been trying Derby Wars lately. I just do showvivor contests on there, it's fun. Good for a day like this.
Arlington Park for 05/27/13
Race # Original
1 0 $0.00
2 Lock N Lola -$10.00 6th
3 Richysthunderingal $10.00 1st
4 Twylas Red Cat -$10.00 4th
5 Macho Coach -$10.00 4th
6 Bingorun -$10.00 6th
7 Hughes the Daddy $16.00 1st
8 Hungry Wildcat $15.00 1st
9 0 $0.00
10
$1.00
Race # 1st. Alternate:
1 Chica Silver $27.00 1st
2 Trac N Jam -$10.00 5th
3 0 $0.00
4 Nolan's Territory -$10.00 5th
5 Eleven Final Fours -$10.00 2nd
6 Grand Silver -$10.00 3rd
7 0 $0.00
8 Izzy Golden -$10.00
9 Rope Dancer -$10.00 4th
10
-$33.00
Race # 2nd. Alternate:
1 0 $0.00
2 Broken Trust Fund $0.00 scratch
3 Wild Pantera -$10.00 8th
4 0 $0.00
5 Ultimate X. -$10.00 5th
6 0 $0.00
7 0 $0.00
8 Ha Long Bay -$10.00 2nd
9 0 $0.00
10
-$30.00
Grand Total -$62.00
Year-to-date results (based upon mythical $10 wagers to win):
Original +$28
Alternate +$29.40
Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$90.40
Arlington Park for 05/29/13
Race # Original
1 Passionately Sweet
2 0
3 Carson's Hawk
4 0
5 0
6 Isle of Skye
7 0
8 0
9 Go Getem
10
Race # Alternate:
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 Captain Jack
7 0
8 0
9 0
10
Quote: FinsRuleThere's so much good stakes racing today. You should watch some of that too....
I've been trying Derby Wars lately. I just do showvivor contests on there, it's fun. Good for a day like this.
I did the $4 AP Wednesday Showvivor Contest. 39 people enter. Person who lasts the longest wins $100, 2nd wins $25.
First race, I picked the 10-1 shot, this knocked out 34 people and I survived. Second race, I picked the 2nd choice at 2-1, this knocked out the other 4 people (who split the $25 2nd prize) and I won $100. Easiest $100 I have ever won.
Original +$21
Alternate +$19.40
Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$80.40
Total YTD +$40.40
Arlington Park for 05/31/13
Race # Original
1 Priceless Shore
2 Scot's Sunnyriver
3 0
4 Mykukubird
5 0
6 Texas Hedge
7 0
8 Flying Rapunzel
9 Collin's Smile
10
Race # Alternate:
1 0
2 Buttercups Baby
3 0
4 Autumn Splendor
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 Spivey
10
Arlington Park for 05/31/13
Race # Original
1 Priceless Shore -$10.00 6th
2 Scot's Sunnyriver -$10.00 6th
3 0 $0.00
4 Mykukubird -$10.00 6th
5 0 $0.00
6 Texas Hedge -$10.00 11th
7 0 $0.00
8 Flying Rapunzel -$10.00
9 Collin's Smile -$10.00
10
-$60.00
Race # Alternate:
1 0 $0.00
2 Buttercups Baby -$10.00 3rd
3 0 $0.00
4 Autumn Splendor $65.00 1st
5 0 $0.00
6 0 $0.00
7 0 $0.00
8 0 $0.00
9 Spivey -$10.00
10
$45.00
Grand Total -$15.00
Original -$39.00
Alternate +$64.40
Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$135.40
Total YTD +$25.40
Arlington Park for 06/01/13
Race # Original
1 Distant Bugle
2 0
3 Rivershire
4 Fastestwhogetspaid
5 Hit Girl
6 Cave Creeker
7 Julmae
8 0
9 Sir Bob
10 Myles
Race # Alternate
1 0
2 0
3 Sancerre
4 Hoodlum
5 0
6 Thecushmaker
7 0
8 0
9 Smokin Glock
10 0
Arlington Park for 06/01/13
Race # Original
1 Distant Bugle -$10.00 3rd
2 0 $0.00
3 Rivershire -$10.00 3rd
4 Fastestwhogetspaid -$10.00 9th
5 Hit Girl -$10.00 7th.
6 Cave Creeker -$10.00 3rd.
7 Julmae -$10.00 5th.
8 0 $0.00
9 Sir Bob -$10.00
10 Myles -$10.00
-$80.00
Race # Alternate
1 0 $0.00
2 0 $0.00
3 Sancerre $0.00 scratched
4 Hoodlum -$10.00 3rd
5 0 $0.00
6 Thecushmaker -$10.00 6th.
7 0 $0.00
8 0 $0.00
9 Smokin Glock -$10.00
10 0
-$30.00
Grand Total -$110.00
Original -$119.00
Alternate +$34.40
Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$105.40
Total YTD -$84.60
Arlington Park for 06/02/13
Race # Original
1 Ravin's Rich Girl
2 0
3 0
4 Tripping
5 Che Serai
6 Courser
7 0
8 Lewderhoo
9 Stivers Suprise
10 0
Race # Alternate
1 Mirka
2 0
3 0
4 Midnight Lace
5 Bye Bye Bunting
6 Somali Byrd
7 0
8 Millennium Star
9 Fleet Encounter
10 0
You don't even need to share the whole thing. Something like "I take last speed figures and money earned and look at their last race to see if they got into any trouble"
I think the best part of this forum and I guess any forum, is the fact that people will tell you when you're wrong, give you a different side to things, and improve your strategies.
I guess I just don't understand the goal.
With all due respect, no. I don't want to share my formula. If you would prefer that I not post this stuff then I can stop.
Whether I'm right or wrong will show in the results. Results are all that matters.
My goal really is to obtain some commentary or thoughts that I can possibly use to get educated and improve upon this. My formula isn't needed for someone to do that. It's as simple as "why would you pick this damn horse............this is why it's dumb".
I just think you'll get more out of it if you give more. I'm not going to spend my time telling you why I don't like your pick in race 5, if you're not going to tell me why you do.
There's more I could write about this, but I'm out of time for now. I'll be at AP for the 8th.
Arlington Park for 06/02/13
Race # Original
1 Ravin's Rich Girl -$10.00 5th
2 0 $0.00
3 0 $0.00
4 Tripping $0.00 scratch
5 Che Serai -$10.00 4th
6 Courser -$10.00 4th
7 0 $0.00
8 Lewderhoo -$10.00 4th
9 Stivers Suprise -$10.00 7th
10 0
-$50.00
Race # Alternate
1 Mirka -$10.00 6th
2 0 $0.00
3 0 $0.00
4 Midnight Lace $0.00 scratch
5 Bye Bye Bunting -$10.00 9th
6 Somali Byrd -$10.00 5th
7 0 $0.00
8 Millennium Star $11.00 1st
9 Fleet Encounter -$10.00 2nd
10 0
-$29.00
Grand Total -$79.00
Original -$169.00
Alternate +$5.40
Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$86.40
Total YTD -$163.60
Quote: steeldcoOK. Thanks. I appreciate the frank discussion. Good Luck today!
I had the double, but due to a toteboard error, canceled the bet. I made up for it with the $61 exacta in the 9th. $45 profit on two races, works for me.
I find that the infrequency of winning is awfully frustrating, even though you don't necessarily have to pick winners frequently.
1. You don't take into account track bias. Some days front runners win all day. Some days it's fair. Some days it's stretch runners.
2. You don't take into account post-time odds. Your bets should be that you pick the three horse at 6-1 or better at post-time, or no bet at all. If you like a horse at 10-1, you probably don't like it at 2-1.
How would I take track bias into account? Would you say that if the first race or two are won by chalks then it will probably be a day for the favorites?
Interesting, and true comment regarding post-time odds. My issue with that is that I am not always able to check the toteboard. But again, an excellent point.
Thank you for your time and help!
For example, you like a closer at 4-1. Well, it's 2 minutes to the race, and it's 10-1. You're excited, right? Well, in this case, a horse within 2 lengths of the lead at the 1/4 pole has won every polytrack race. Your horse has never been that close in any of his 10 races. That's why his odds are so high. Unless he's head and shoulders above the other horses, he is a bad bet. Tracks develop these biases throughout the meet, or after different weather and conditioning of the track. AP typically has a speed favoring bias, especially on the polytrack.
Would you say that a change in odds on a horse from short to long should indicate not to bet that horse?
Or vice versa, a change from long odds to short cause you to take that horse.
In general, of course. I realize that this type of rationale is not all there is to it.
Long to short scares me, but it won't cause me to bet it unless it's a first time starter. If you didn't like the horse at 10-1, you shouldn't like it at 3-1.
Race # Original
1 Razzo Succo
2 Limestone
3 0
4 La Pinata
5 0
6 Latika Love
7 0
8 Code of Conduct
9 Chas the Man
10 0
Race # Alternate
1 Roarin Missile
2 High Flying Jake
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 Katie the Lady
7 0
8 0
9 Mephisto Aristo
10 0
Arlington Park for 06/05/13
Race # Original
1 Razzo Succo $10.00 1st
2 Limestone $22.00 1st
3 0 $0.00
4 La Pinata $61.00 1st
5 0 $0.00
6 Latika Love -$10.00 3rd
7 0 $0.00
8 Code of Conduct -$10.00 4th
9 Chas the Man -$10.00 5th
10 0
$63.00
Race # Alternate
1 Roarin Missile -$10.00 5th
2 High Flying Jake -$10.00 8th
3 0 $0.00
4 0 $0.00
5 0 $0.00
6 Katie the Lady $5.00 1st
7 0 $0.00
8 0 $0.00
9 Mephisto Aristo -$10.00 10th
10 0 $0.00
-$25.00
Grand Total $38.00
Original -$106.00
Alternate -19.60
Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$71.40
Total YTD -$125.60
Arlington Park for 06/07/13
Race # Original
1 Artful Bee
2 0
3 Annabird
4 Charlotte's Cape
5 Peligrosa
6 Abby's Slew
7 Call Me Classy
8 I See Mambo
9 0
10
Race # Alternate
1 Rojo Verde
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 Blissful Gold
6 Coaming
7 Just Waiting
8 Wayne's Kitten
9 0
10
Today's Results:
Arlington Park for 06/07/13
Race # Original
1 Artful Bee -$10.00 4th
2 0
3 Annabird -$10.00 4th
4 Charlotte's Cape -$10.00 3rd
5 Peligrosa -$10.00 6th
6 Abby's Slew -$10.00 3rd
7 Call Me Classy -$10.00 6th
8 I See Mambo -$10.00 8th
9 0
10
-$70.00
Race # Alternate
1 Rojo Verde -$10.00 2nd
2 0 $0.00
3 0 $0.00
4 0 $0.00
5 Blissful Gold -$10.00 9th
6 Coaming -$10.00 8th
7 Just Waiting -$10.00 7th
8 Wayne's Kitten -$10.00 4th
9 0
10
-$50.00
Grand Total -$120.00
Original -$176.00
Alternate -69.60
Alternate-stop at 1st. Win +$21.40
Total YTD -$245.60
You may want to look over your results and see if you are doing better or worse in the small fields, If of course worse, you may want to stay away from those small fields.
Why Arlington Park, home track?
Thank you for the advice. I will review field size.