I may be more acquainted than most of you with bellsbendoy (BBB), with whom I have corresponded occasionally the last three years or so. BBB does not need me to speak up for him, but here are my two cents worth anyway.

All I want to say is, when BBB says that his approach is to "out handicap them," don't assume he can't do it. He has posted with some regularity on the Fair Grounds / Starting Gate forum at www.nola.com the last several years and he is far, far ahead on his occasional Pick 4 plays, which rarely exceed $36 and are often $24 or less.

BBB posted a Pick 4 on our forum that paid around ten grand -- it was at Keeneland, if I recall correctly -- which by itself would have him way ahead. But even if you disregarded that monster payoff, BBB would still be an overall winner, and easily so, with his other posted scores. And BBB doesn't just post numbers, as some do: He generally provides a succinct analysis that sets forth the rationale for his selections.

I agree with you guys to the extent that you may be saying that BBB would win more money if he would bet more often and cover more combinations; he frequently hits 3 out of 4 and would likely have cashed many of these tickets if he'd gone a little deeper or had played multiple tickets. But I am not one to argue with the methods of a highly successful horseplayer, and based on my observations, BBB is one.