The Sweep Is Lining Up
 

In December, TVG had a great idea to do a free "fantasy horse racing" leauge, offer a 10K purse, and make it open to the public and not just TVG members.

I'm not big on contests---because they never put emphasis on long-term consistancy...which leads to favoring luck and a very short-term hot streak, over skill and sustained quality.

The TVG contest was quite different though---it was set-up to be a grind and one that rewards players who's savvy isn't limited to strictly one region of the country.

Out of the 3,274 people who've scored in that one--I'm currently in 1st place, with an insurmountable triple digit lead. It ends on Belmont Stakes day in three weeks.

TVG also did a leauge in March restricted to 3-year-old horses....after setting your initial roster, you're only allowed to make 16 roster moves from the start through the finish--which is also Belmont Stakes day. Obviously, that one puts more emphasis on luck and tactics...but I'm holding my own.

Out of the 2,789 people who've scored in that one--I'm currently in 10th place and all but two or three of the people infront of me are dead in the water...basically out of moves, and certain to be passed.

There are probably about 3 people left who have a real chance to deny me "the sweep." TVG commentator Gary Siebel is one of them.

While I know I am tooting my own horn in a big way---It would be very satisfying if I could pull off a sweep...and especially win the 3-year-old contest....as I don't feel I've had as good a gauge on the 3yo division this year, as I've had in some years past.

Good luck and congrats on the Preakness exacta. Curlin is scary talented.

Good luck. If you win, do you get 60% of the $10k purse?

Thanks guys.

$7,500 for 1st in each one.

Wow. Then a double dose of good luck.

DrugS.. Look at you..! Unbelievable! Great job.. Siebel can't be eligible for prize money, can he? Good luck down the stretch...

Good luck DrugS. I like your chances.

You should be tooting your own horn on this. What an accomplishment!

Paul

Wow, I'm awful at those things -- every one, every year so inevitably I quit playing them in the middle of the contest.

Good luck on those, I'm pulling for ya on both of them. Be sure to let us know what you need to happen so we can pull for you too (if that won't jinx it!).

Good Work...I entered it but I thought it was very difficult to keep up with. You had to work real hard and sometimes guess as to which horses would be running. Obviously you did your homework. I hope you enjoy the CASH!! Very nice.

Great job, Drugs. Bring it home! Don't pull a Street Sense in the stretch! (sorry, cheap shot--but it's kinda funny).

Great job DrugS...I really did spend enough time with my stable. :(

You should toot your horn for that, no small feat what you've done there.

I've have found no aptitiude for this Fantasy league stuff. It appears to me like it would take a lot of time to stay on top of all the myriad issues.

Good Luck, keep us posted as to how you're doing.

Nice job Drugs, always love to hear when DTers are doing well in contests ... especially when big money is in play.

I am jealous.
I wish I had the time to play one of these longer term contests.
It sounds like an awful lot of fun.

I started, it took up too much time and I quit.
Great work.
Hope you crush em' both.

I think that is awesome. Good luck the rest of the way...

ALostTexan

Hey the kid has been nothing but right since he was touting Krispy Kreme in 1998. I think he had dropped out of high school at 15 at that point.

Good work, DrugS. Hope you win. :)

the only reason you can win is because your arch nemesis from aol didnt enter either contest dude.

you should be thankful, not boastful.

Good luck this weekend Drugs...any update? Still a lock?

Thank You.

I won't need it in the main contest....I'm going to win by triple digit points unless the highly unlikely event of a Slews Tizzy-Imawildandcrazyguy exacta occurs in the Belmont Stakes.

Even if that happens, everyone else is mathematically eliminated...though the winning margin wouldn't be quite as big.

As far as the 3yo contest....my postion has weakened a little since than, I still have three moves left (and Dream Rush already in)....but, I'm probably somewhere between a 15/1-to-25/1 shot of winning it all. I'll need to get hot Saturday, and need a little luck.

SnipersB is also in with a winning shot in the 3yo contest as well...he's got as good a shot as I do...

Hopefully someone from the board wins it.

Great Job!

I'm in 49th as of today. I forgot to activate On The Acorn in his last race :o

My chart for the main fantasy would read: broke slowly, made strong move midrace, finished evenly

3year old contest chart: dumped jockey at start but had fun doing it.

Good luck in the main contest. Sure looks like that $7,500 is yours. I've got a lead on you in the 3yo with the same amount of moves left but will have to use one of my three on Dream Rush (who was actually in my initial stable but I dropped her before she ever raced). My only advantage over you is Cotton Blossom who is hardly confidence inspiring. Unfortunately there are two people tied with or in front of both us that have 4 moves left. We really need them to waste a move or two. I still can't believe I wasted a move on Cowtown Cat. I don't like that horse at all but thought that field was so horrific that he would likely be some easy points to pick up on the field. Just a few minutes before I had the dagger partially stabbed into my heart when Lady Joanne ran down High Again and cost me 15 crucial points. I hope they do these contests again. They are fun although I would certainly not make the same mistake in the main one of joining two leagues in addition to the public league and having to make all my changes three times.

Good luck to you and DrugS.

I really think it would be wrong if TVG allows their hosts to take the money prize. I don't recall this being a beat the host contest and whenever Churchill (entirely different company I know, but same concept) has their fantasy contest for KY Derby or Arlington Million day they don't even allow employees to enter.

I think it is pretty funny that Gary Stevens would be ahead of me if he hadn't done such a horrific job of picking jockeys.

Terrific performance, DrugS! Congrats.

--Dunbar

That race hurt me as well. I was thinking of using either Lady Joanne or Rutharianne last week---but got so caught up in the other contest---that I didn't make a single move and was just going to hope they wouldn't win.

You really can't fault yourself too much for taking Cowtown Cat---as horrible a favorite as I thought he was---he still was a 3/5 shot in a Grade 2 race---and I even entertained the idea of using him for a second or two, knowing I wouldn't get that short of a price for that many points the rest of the way. But, I really just despised him....he won with a monster bias aided trip two back, and than the 33 Beyer in the Derby..and he was giving 7lbs-to-9lbs all around.

Thanks. Hopefully I have one more good weekend left in me. I'll have to need it.

Dont get drunk friday night, Good luck

Good luck to both of you guys.
I'm arond 54th in the main contest, and that's pretty good considering I didn't understand the rules for the first month.
The 3-yo contest kind of came up quick and baffled me and I lost interest quickly.
I guess I need a longer attention span and read the rules before playing.
:)

Going to be very tough to knock Gary Seibel out of there. There are also two people with four moves left. The one person is out of moves but well ahead in first so would benefit from a bunch of upsets. Winning would be very tough for either of us but at least the top six pay out (although 90% of the money goes to the top two). I doubt Drugs is going to be too excited about winning $100 though after winning $7,500 in the other one.

you obviously don't know him very well.

good luck to drugs and sniper!!!

What about gas money to drive the $7500 to the bank? :D

Best of luck guys!

well done boys...continued sucess.

Congratulations to you both. I figured that some folks from this board had to be in the top 10 on the tvg fantasy league. I am somewhere in the middle of the pack which sounds impressive until you realize just how big the pack is!!! Well done

Props to our DT brothers...very nice work.

Spyder