FORNATALE: DT's NHC Stars forge toward Vegas!
 

Fornatale: Contest clique clicking on all cylinders
By Peter Thomas Fornatale

http://www.drf.com/blogs/fornatale-c...-all-cylinders

When you talk to most contest players, the message is clear: One of the best things about playing is the camaraderie among players. At any contest, especially one like the National Handicapping Championship or the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, lifelong friendships are made in the contest room.

For example, take Table 69 from the auxiliary ballroom at Treasure Island in 2015, where Eric Bialek and Nick Tammaro sat at last year’s NHC. Their group got along so well that they became involved in an ongoing group text exchange (older readers: ask your kids) involving six players, including Jackie Jenkins and Dan Kovalesky. On the group text, all of racing’s relevant topics have been discussed throughout the year, from the worthiness of American Pharoah to win the Triple Crown to the best way to staple (younger readers: ask your parents) your DRF past performances.

The group text has also been an opportunity to provide help and support – as well as a chance to bust each other’s chops. For example, Bialek is a bit of a pariah within the group. As the only one without an iPhone, “He breaks up the smooth communication that is iMessage,” according to one group chat member.

This weekend was in many ways the zenith of the group’s achievements this year. Tammaro, playing on NHCQualify.com, managed to hold on for a qualifying spot. This is his third NHC qualification in his four years of contest play. Tammaro was leading going into the last but was passed by Rocky Hardy and Tom Heller, both of whom will be joining him in Vegas.

Eric Bialek will be there as well. Bialek became one of the youngest NHC qualifiers ever when he qualified for the 2014 event at 22 years old. Bialek, an accomplished lacrosse player and budding triathlete, had home games on Friday and Saturday. The Chicago resident was playing in the Hawthorne NHC live-bankroll qualifying contests. He ended up in second place on Saturday, good for his third straight year at the big dance. He qualified on Tour points last year. “It was a low scoring day, but Dortmund finally bailed me out from the Derby,” Bialek said. “It was a great day for the group text.”

The group’s success didn’t stop there. Kovalesky, who finished fifth in the 2014 NHC, won a qualifying spot in another online contest. And Jenkins has the best story of all. He was playing in the BCQualify.com feeder for a spot in the Dec. 6 qualifying contest for next year’s BCBC. But he had a little problem. “I purchased my entries a few days before when they went on sale and forgot about them,” he explained. “When I heard on the group text that Nick was in position to qualify for the NHC, I remembered the BCQ entries.”

Jenkins almost didn’t bother to put the plays in at that point. Six races had already passed and he thought that the prices on the two Tom Proctor horses he liked might not pay enough to get him where he wanted to be anyway. But since the BCQ contest only required a top 10 percent finish to advance, he went ahead and put them in. Sure enough Family Meeting ($76.60 but limited to $42 for the contest) and Chiropractor ($30.80) both won and Jenkins ended up fourth overall, never mind that he didn’t put in his first six picks!

As for the other two members of the group chat, they had okay weekends as well. Track announcer Travis Stone, a friend of Tammaro’s for many years via a horse racing message board, called three graded stakes at Churchill Downs and finished up his first full rotation as the storied track’s caller.

The sixth member of the team is current NHC Tour leader Jonathon Kinchen. Kinchen has long been presumed to be home and hosed on the Tour – he has had a commanding lead since winning the Gulfstream contest back in September. But he started to look just a little vulnerable on Friday night.

Tommy Massis, who has been on an epic run in contests himself, was in first place by a lot going into the last at Hawthorne. It looked for all the world like he was going to have his fourth victory on the year. According to him, he left the plant having been told that he had won. If correct, that would have put him within another top 5 finish and a top 10 percent finish of unseating Kinchen – well within the realm of possibility. In the end, however, Gene Cahalan hit a $100 double in the last race to pass Massis and keep Kinchen safe – for now. Massis still needs an outright win and a top 5 finish to get close. Massis is, however, in the top 20 on the Tour already and in a great spot to be eligible for the contest-within-a-contest at the NHC.

As for Kinchen, he decided at the last minute on Friday night to fly to Chicago and play in the Hawthorne contest, the site of his first onsite victory this season. “I got it in my head that Tommy could become an issue and thought it would be fun to return to the scene of one of my tour wins,” he said. While he didn’t do much himself, he was able to celebrate along with his friends as they punched their tickets to Vegas.

Tammaro summed up the situation perfectly: “Most of the year Dan, Jackie, Eric, and I have been rooting Jonathon on, but we all finally had our day in the sun.”

For full NHCQ results, go to http://www.nhcqualify.com/leaderboard.aspx.

For full BCQ results, check out http://www.bcqualify.com/leaderboard.aspx.

Then there's Jim, Nick, Paul, Ed... Who else is already in?

It was a very nice article. I am happy for all of my DT friends and look forward to seeing everyone in Vegas.

Paul

That was a fun article. :)

Great writeup!

56 days away....but who's counting.

I am in, but I don't post a whole lot here. Mostly read and listen to your show. That being said, would love to meet everyone at the event. I think Casper is qualified by points as of today, but there is still a month left. He is 117, I am the Ken at 89.

http://www.ntra.com/nhc/files/NHC%20...B%20120215.pdf

Im rooting for you Ken..I was a total flop last Sunday, I probably should not have played since I had to put picks in advance in a live contest. I plan on playing again this weekend hopefully with better results. G'Luck!

I think your score will hold up, but there was a lot of tourney activity this past weekend which hasn't been tallied on the leaderboard. I know the twinspires tourney is large so there would have been a lot of points doled out. Looking at the schedule, not too many tourney's left but they will be awarding points through 1/3/16.

http://www.ntra.com/en/nhc/nhc-tour-schedule/

Good Luck HerkHorse

Good luck everyone!!!

haven't qualified, but thanks

I'm sitting at 83rd in the Tour standings......thinking (and hoping) 9817 points will be enough

You are 1-9 to make it with that score. Congrats!

Paul

Updated as of 12/5. Major changes, a lot of folks pushed down.

http://www.ntra.com/nhc/files/NHC%20...B%20120515.pdf

Cut line may get over 8K

Odds released over the weekend by Treasure Island to win the NHC this year.

That I am listed at 60-1 is the underlay of the century. I'd be flattered if I were 60-1 in a contest with just the DerbyTrailers.... :zz:

Maybe my Mom took the elastic off after 78 years....sent it in on me....

I thought you said you did. My bad. Then is Oceans 16 on?

They listed me at 40-1 last year :zz: me, a boy in a man's world, I had my picture taken with the odds sheet, I pull it out every once in awhile when I need a good laugh....still makes me smile today :D

My group text consists of beer pictures from knicks from whatever bar he is at on his latest vacati....er, work trip.

Lot's of short jokes too, for some reason.

That thread of texts will make a good movie someday!!!

12/8 updated, not much movement.

http://www.ntra.com/nhc/files/NHC%20...B%20120815.pdf

good luck dt crew.. 2 of the top 10 are ladies...and the guy that makes all the twinspires pool plays is in the 490s..:rolleyes::zz:lol im sitting pretty at 1190s.

How does this work? Do they only take from the top 150 that don't already have an entry or do they take those with an entry out of the equation and take the top 150 without after that. Hoping Billy hangs on....

Within the top 150, that haven't yet qualified. So maybe 30-40 of those in the top 150 haven't qualified?

Edit, just counted 37 in the top 150 with no star yet.

A question for those that have accumulated points in the top 300 or so. How many days/weekends have you played qualifiers? If it's not to personal, a ballpark estimate of money spent to get where you are.

LOL, it's a tale of two years for me. Last year I ended up I think around 190 (missed Qualifying by a few hundred points) and played 25-30 events maybe. Just burned money. I did qualify for some events via feeders (HT.com), but I also paid for a lot full price. Guessing last year I paid several thousand with nothing really in return.

This year I said screw that, its not worth it. I played the very first NHCQ one for $165, then I played some HT feeders and qualified for a couple. I know I played two feeders for the tourney that I qualified for the NHC in on HT.com ($34). I also got points in two of the four free tourneys, one I finished 8th so picked up a $hit ton of points. I also drove down to Surfside and got 5th (top 4 got paid:mad:), and that tourney was $300. I played one more HT tourney (full price) to try and pick up points to see if I could make a push for the top 20 ($155). So this year I've paid about $600-$700 bucks in tourney's where I got NHC points. Almost half being the surfside one, which I can win real money and you keep your ticket winnings since it's a real money tourney. Hell, I think I walked out with $300 just on other races I won on.

Last year was my first year doing tourneys and using HTR, so there were a couple learning curves I was fighting. This year, I felt more comfortable with both. I've played way more Cash tourneys this year and have done pretty well. I will probably take the same approach next year. Try to qualify with feeders only, or on free tourneys (NHC, PH, Del Mar, etc.). If by Oct. I still haven't qualified, I will see if I want to pursue it further or not.

Interesting and thank you for your detailed response.

Thanks Jim....I am debating whether to play 12/12 contest as I will be on the road early and without internet access until around 5:30 or 6. I'm at 143 now and 200 points from the bubble. I will be studying the plays tomorrow but most likely will wait until the 12/19 contest. Good luck to the rest!

The 12/19 contest is cheaper, will have more entries, thus more chances for points. All you really need is a few points to lock it up...

Thanks. Probably TMI but I guess my point is don't chase the points. It sucks cause if you don't win a spot, you get no cash and those tourneys for the most part are min $155. At least on HT, you can play feeders. NHCQ is more of a rip since they rake more and give less out for "travel". HT gave me $1100 "for travel" plus the seat.

I guess if I was in Casper's position right now, or in the top 200, it probably makes sense to chase the points in December because the prize is so valuable. Counting the consolation tourney, 70 people got at least $1K last year. This year, the top 10% will cash in the main, if top 20 cash in the consolation, roughly 80-90 will get at least $1K + a free trip to Vegas and the experience (this is my first so can't wait).

took a shot today a few seconds cost me ..but thats the the brutal game of this..ended up 24..cubs fever next year..:zz::rolleyes::wf

Updated Standings

http://www.ntra.com/nhc/files/NHC%20...B%20121515.pdf

Casper moves up to 114th! Should be safe for sure now. Nice work!

Thanks for the support Ken!! Hope to meet you in Vegas!

You the man Billy!!

I will be starting an NHC Prep thread in the Contest forum sometime today. The goal will be the practice picking optional races from the projected tracks for the next several weekends up until the NHC week. I am currently grabbing historical scores and projecting what the target daily scores need to be to make day 3, and will incorporate that into a "fun" contest of sorts, but more for practice and to try to get myself thinking the way I imagine I will need to while in vegas.

I may try to incorporate the mandatory aspect of it as well.

Not sure how useful past scores will be. This will be the largest field ever and by far. That could make scores higher.

But, this is the first ever event where we play races from Thursday and Friday. No weekend means no stakes and smaller fields. In fact, finding eight tracks running on Thursday will be a challenge let alone much quality or field size. This figures to lower scores.

Tough to say what the cut off will be.

My own advice, do not worry about prior anything. Set a personal goal for day one ($70-$100 probably puts you right in the mix) and go from there.

By the way, I love the enthusiasm. Enjoy the experience.

Paul

I would imagine there's only going to be 6 tracks on Thursday with Tampa dark. The only ones that can be used are AQU-GP-FG-OP-SA-GG and we better hope for good weather!

Just got an email from them, those are the tracks for Thurs, add TB for Fri and Sat. Subject to change it says (of course).

Different kettle of fish this year as other posters have pointed out.......Thursday means shorter fields and less tracks......rule changes mean more races to play on Thursday and Friday.......2 1/2 x bankroll gets you where you need to be.

ps......take a look at the track line-up for Wednesday's last chance on Jan 27

Who is in? Personally Im not a fan of the Thursday start as I loved the 2nd day being Sat and all the great racing that brings us. Let's one of us bring the title back to Derby trail as a tribute to our leader!

In X 2. I actually like the Thursday-Friday. IMO...smaller field sizes = less big overlays = horses that seem to be more in my normal comfort range (5-1 / 10-1). Bomb chasers may struggle which I feel works to my advantage. Just one guys thoughts. Oh, I also like being home for Monday A.M.. Makes for a normal week. Best of luck to all the Derbytrailers!