Right now I only have one futures bet runner with the points to run on May 6th. 4 others are on the bubble.
**edit to add
Shortly after the race I was told the final time was 1:48 flat (which would have been faster than the Oaklawn Handicap). The final time is listed @ 1:48.93. My comment is likely hyperbole at this point.
Quote: KeeneoneShortly after the race I was told the final time was 1:48 flat (which would have been faster than the Oaklawn Handicap). The final time is listed @ 1:48.93. My comment is likely hyperbole at this point.
It might have been 1:48 flat if he got a better trip. I should have said, no problems except getting stuck behind 3 horses, and having to swing out to the grandstands to get around them to win :)
I really wanted to change my bet seeing this, but I didn't for a dumb reason, I had phone difficulties and it would take two phones to make my bet and didn't want to go through that again. I was realizing it was probably a rumor Classic Empire lost weight, I never tried confirming it and should have. The favorites doing so terrible lately and I was hesitant.Quote: JyBrd0403Mike Smith on Untrapped for 1st time looks interesting, but I'd be very surprised if Classic Empire has any problems winning the Arkansas Derby. Those two workouts that were 59 and change, were from the gate.
Congrats on the result, but a general note about gate works: I suggest caution 'bout that; use it in context of the pattern of that specific trainer & horse. Gate works will often tend to produce faster times than the clockings you'll get at the distance for normal workouts for similar stock under the same conditions. This is probably the opposite of what most people would expect, including many who've followed the game for a long time, even among some who write about it for a living. But they do.Quote: JyBrd0403...Those two workouts that were 59 and change, were from the gate.
Quote: DrawingDeadCongrats on the result, but a general note about gate works: I suggest caution 'bout that; use it in context of the pattern of that specific trainer & horse. Gate works will often tend to produce faster times than the clockings you'll get at the distance for normal workouts for similar stock under the same conditions. This is probably the opposite of what most people would expect, including many who've followed the game for a long time, even among some who write about it for a living. But they do.
Thanks for the Conrats, DD. About the gate works, my understanding of gate works, is (as you predicted) exactly the opposite of yours.
When they clock a horse they run him out for a while before the jockey gives him the go. The horse is already running (has momentum) before the official clock is started.
Gate works, on the other hand, the horse is standing still when the clock is started, usually producing a slower time, generally 1 second slower than a normal work. The horse has no momentum going when the clock is started.
That's my understanding. So, when I see 59.3 and see that little g, my eyes light up. I don't mind doing my homework on a horse, that can put up some numbers like that.
I do have a question, though. Why dismiss times so much? A fast horse with a bad jockey, and bad connections, might still win, a slow mule with a great jockey, and the best connections, still ain't gonna win.