Those are three of my tosses. . . Good luck. . .

Toss Scat Daddy at your own risk. :p

Excellent! Hoping for more that will toss 'em! Ramp up the probables!

Unfortunately I don't think that's the case. . . Curlin will be the chalk and Scat Daddy will be the favored Pletcher horse- even though he's his third string (making Cowtown Cat his fourth string). . .

I think it makes sense to take more time on this race than any other because of the opportunities to make more money. I also think this is a race where it pays to "stretch" a little bit in your usual betting strategies, again because of the opportunities to make a hell of a lot more money. If you're a "straight win" bettor, place a little money on the exacta or pick 3. The payoffs are HUGE.

I probably spend too much time on this race. But I also have a huge grin on my face while I'm doing it. It's a lot of fun just trying to figure out all the angles and trying to navigate through the b.s. And then there's all the arguing and gloating/sulking with my handicapping friends (mostly sulking).

For me the real answer is....however long it takes for me to talk myself out of including the eventual winner in any of my exactas.

See, I usually bet Pick 3s and 4s that include the Derby, but I've been thinking it over, and it really makes no sense to put so much effort into handicapping one race and very little effort (relatively) into 'capping races that will be equally important to the Pick 3 and 4 wagers. This year, I'll probably be playing inside the race only unless I see some can't miss play in one of the other races.

I've been handicapping since January 1. I'm still deciding if I will bet exotics or across the board. But, how I bet will depend largely on the arrival of my Illinois state tax refund in my checking account. The federal refund will come just in time for Breeders Cup. :)

I got mine in February... it's gone already. LOL

Now why does that not surprise me?:p

Who did your taxes? Al Capones CPA?

I do them. Mine are easy, though... nothing to itemize anymore since I lease my house. :D

Yup! Me too.
Hours?
Far too many.
Now, for the 2-8 spots...I'm doing a kind of "cow flop bingo" with my dog.
I put the names on the sidewalk in chalk. Whereever dear ol' pooch decides to drop his load of undigested lands, I write it down.
I'm paying attention!

Sad,but true!

Wish I could say that. I procrastinate. I didn't get mine done until the first week of April. If I had known I was going to get a gigantor refund from the state and the federal, I would have sent it in January. Next year, I'll do that next year :D

Lucky you...no refund this year for me so I waited to the last day to file...they can wait for my $$$:o

Same thing I would have done. :D

I did that last year, like on the 13th or something. Had to actually save up to pay them off. Got an inherited IRA that really messed up my taxes. So I lowered my withholding status to zero, so the tax hit wouldn't be so bad. I found out I could still pay the bills and go to the track with less money in my paycheck, so I never changed it. Hence, the large refund this year. Would be nice if the Federal government could figure out how to work with less money and lower taxes ;) Enough pontificating from me!

That's the smart way to play it. Unless you have a lock in one of the races and can afford to spread in the others.

I have a friend who bets win/place and exactas, and is constantly telling me he would have had the huge trifecta. I tell him to bet the trifecta, and he tells me he doesn't bet those. :confused:

It only took me ten years to convince him to play the exactas... Maybe I'll have an easier time with the trifectas.

But I don't have the millions like you saved up:p

and YOU were mad about the cost of an airline ticket to Albany? Mere bag of shells for a big timer like you!

My salary is ridiculously low (if you really want to know) and I actually used that refund money to pay off a credit card. Wish I could have blown it on something else, but the credit card was first. Drat! And don't worry... I'll be at Toga. Booked my flight. :p