That's it....The Breeder's Cup is horrible. I'm not watching. I think I'll go to the woods and look for scat. Come on folks, sure the quality is down and it's on Poly or pro-ride or whatever, but it's still a fun day if you are a horse racing fan. It's still better than a Mid-February Aqueduct inner track card.

Right, but he beat a very weak field, and Sahkee, Giant's Causeway, and even Ibn Bay all ran much better in defeat.

oh yeah my bad! ;)

I doubt I will have many February days where my handle is less than it will be on all 14 BC races combined.

I don't doubt that Andy and I understand your stance on this issue. You've never been a big fan of this day and I understand that. I'm just saying in general that it's not as bad as some people are making it out to be. I'm still looking forward to a good time with my friends like we do on most "big" days in horse racing.

I need help here. Is it going to play more like Poly and Tapeta (apparent advantage to closers and turf types) or is it going to play more like dirt. Who cares what it is made off? I just want to know how it will play.

Is there any chance that the track supers will adjust how it is going to play? Speed it up? Water it? I don't have any confidence playing the non grass races.

Giant's Causeway ran a heck of a race to Tiznow.

After reading today's Cristblog on DRF about the overall earnings of the entrants I'm even a little more interested.

Is it because it is in California or because its on synthetic? If its synthetic I assume you dont play Kee on the main track anymore.

I'm not sure what I'll end up watching this Sat, the BC or college football.

The only thing that seems remotely interesting is Curlin & his Con-Ride experience.

Sure there are a few okay horses running like Zenyetta, IB and... and... well I cant come up with another. UGH!

Of course this one will be running Friday.

Nobody plays Keeneland's main track anymore. Have you seen the statistics from their meet?

I don't know the amounts each individual on this board bets but I know Andy is not alone in this. Not even close. I personally will play very little, if any, on the main track races. I just do not like games of chance that much. I like gambling on horses because I feel confident that I can read a form, know the horses, and make an informed decision on where my money will go. I have ZERO such confidence in that on this track.

You are right... both Zen and Indian Blessing are running on Friday.


That makes Saturday suck even more!

KG...

With all due respect, the 'games of chance' out is the widespread excuse for those unwilling to work at capping and playing synthetic tracks. The Oak Tree racing has been fair and formful on the dirt-lile Pro-Ride surface, and regulars of West Coast circuit play have stated they aren't even thinking there is any unusually 'unique' aspect to the oval.

I think you are looking at it the wrong way. It's been fair and formful.....to those that have already been stabled out in California or have shown an ability to handle a synthetic track. Some people looked at the results of the Goodwood, Oak Leaf, Ancient Title, and Lady's Secret and said they proved that it's formful. But think about it. Well Armed had already shown he liked synthetics. So had Stardom Bound and the runner-up in the Oak Leaf. The 1-2-3 finishers in the Ancient Title were all proven performers on synthetics. And Zenyatta is just a beast that can win on anything. But did you notice Hystericalady barely holding for second after the pace scenario she had? What the track showed it was is similar to other synthetics and holds the form of those races. But it still told us nothing about how horses that haven't run on it, Curlin for instance, will perform. It didn't tell us if the best horses will win the races or the best synthetic horses will win the races. That's the great unknown and for a lot of bettors, it's too big of one.

I agree!! Everyone is saying Zenyatta crushed her. But HL set fractions of 24 and 48 and didn't even put up a fight.

There is something wrong with that picture......Any G1 quality horse should win with that kind of pace.

Final Decisions
 

Awesome Gem: Mile (2)
Black Magic Mama: Juvenile Fillies (1)
Casino Drive: Classic (1)
Coronet of a Baron: Juvenile Turf (2)
Dave ’s Revenge: Juvenile Fillies (2)
Dream Empress: Juvenile Fillies (1)
Elusive Bluff: Juvenile (1)
Emmy Darling: Juvenile Fillies Turf (1)
Evita Argentina: Juvenile Fillies (1)
Fairbanks: Classic (2)
First Defence: Sprint (1)
Gallant Son: Juvenile (1)
Goldikova: Mile (1)
Indian Blessing: Filly & Mare Sprint (1)
Lewis Michael: Dirt Mile (1)
Lord Admiral: Dirt Mile (2)
Mast Track: Dirt Mile (2)
Mine That Bird: Juvenile (1)
Precious Kitten: Mile (1)
Pyro: Dirt Mile (2)
Raven ’s Pass: Classic (1)
Rebellion: Dirt Mile (1)
Renda: Juvenile Fillies Turf (1)
Saucey Evening: Juvenile Fillies Turf (1)
Slew ’s Tizzy: Dirt Mile (2)
Spring House: Turf (1)
Ventura: Filly & Mare Sprint (1)
Well Armed: Dirt Mile (1)

Raven ’s Pass: Classic (1)

LUV IT. Stay outta my mile.

Attachment 1043






Oh....What do I do? Play the Breeder's Cup or play fetch..........hmmmm...

Over the first three weeks, frontrunners did not do particularly well on the Pro-Ride.
Last week however, a number of speed horses wired the field.

Thirteen out of the sixteen races there on Wednesday and Thursday are over the main track. The best way to guess at how the track will be playing on Friday and Saturday will be to watch how it plays in those thirteen races.

but i don't think their idea of firm going is what we classify as firm. they all water their tracks when there isn't rain. i know some don't like the softer footing, but their tracks are still rather deep-and far from the firm footing in places such as santa anita.

i don't know that you can say they don't send their best-ouija board was certainly one of the best. i think the best who don't run in the arc end up coming-it's a tricky time of year for their horses. i know at least one juvie that was supposed to show ended up not coming since her winter coat came in. too warm for them in cali, and they said that generally you see a bit of a drop in a horses efforts once they get that coat going.

i'm not disputing that on average the euros have better turfers, i just don't think it's this huge dominating thing they've got going as some seem to think. since it's pretty much an exclusive type of racing for them, and turf is secondary here, i'd think it would stand to reason that they would have an edge since it's all they concentrate on. also, it's not as tho we can't breed a good turf horse, they get bred quite often in ky-and invariably end up overseas after being purchased at auction. we export our best and brightest turfers, everyone here focuses on dirt. with good reason i'd say, look at how much emphasis is placed on the classic here, not the turf. it's where the money's at.

Which would you prefer?
 

A BC run in mud/slop on dirt or the BC run on a synthetic surface?

And this isn't a biased question....interested in which people would rather handicap, which is a better money making opportunity, and which surface is fairer.

And a dry, dirt track is not an option here.

This is probably dodging the question but I'll take this years BC over last years, because the turf races should be more form full.

Understood..and I guess I should have narrowed it to the main track only.

Personally, I would take the mud over the fake turf.
Thanks to Mike Helms' sire ratings I have been doing unusally well on the slop this year.

Neither.

I cut way back on my wagering last year because of the slop, more so because of the bog masquerading as a grass course and I'm cutting all the way back this year.

CD in '10.

I think both scenarios make the baby races even harder to play with horses catching synthetic or slop for the first time.

As for handicapping, I would pefer the slop. You would think that most of these horses have some sort of off track lines/form in their pp's. Not to mention their bloodlines too.

That's a tough question - but I think I prefer a microbrew.

Shouldn't you be packing?

I'll say the poly this year........last year most of the horses had never run on muddy tracks or bad turf. This year many of the horse have been exposed to some sort of synthetic track in training or races.

Stay on topic Schlitz-boy

I laughed :tro:

Breeder's Cup PP's
 

Hey Guys

Does anyone know when PP's will be available???

Please......dirt.

They're FINALLY out. . . Sans post positions and morning line of course. . .

This is not entirely true. I was over there in Britain for a year (just returned in August) and there were some spells when the rain was scarce and the ground was pretty firm. As I recall, the entire Ascot meet was conducted on firm ground; horses were scratched because they didn't like 'to hear their feet rattle.'

The most interesting race on the BC card(s)...
 

The Damascus, after the Classic.

As much as I can't stand this group of three year olds, it should be interesting seeing the return of Into Mischief, Gayego and Georgie Boy all in the same race.

Why she keep trying that Dancing in Silks going 7f? What am I missing ? Guess she is counting on speed bias stretching him out. This lady that trains Georgie Boy has probably moved into a house with him by now. I mean that horse is her life. Be surprised if he doesn't win at low odds. THAT IS HIS DISTANCE.

I prefer a cozy , dry spot to do my handicapping .