Good Morning from Red Rock
 

It's 6:50 AM PST and we're only two and a half hours away from the first contest race. The skies are cloudy and there's a bit of rain in the area, but who cares, none of us are going outside!

Last night's cocktail reception was fun though the NHC participants and the associated NTRA staff filled up the Pavilion Ballroom at Red Rock rather quickly. Mike Watchmaker filled in for Steve Crist in welcoming the players on behalf of the DRF. Red Rock Race & Sports Book Director Jason McCormick also offered a free trip to the Kentucky Derby to anyone who breaks Rich Goodall's record score from 2008.

Here are the mandatory races for today, for those of you who'd like to follow along:

GP Race 4 PT: 2:42 PM EST
GP Race 5 PT: 3:12 PM EST
Aqu Race 8 PT: 3:49 PM EST
Tam Race 9 PT: 4:08 PM EST
FG Race 8 PT: 4:55 PM EST
GG Race 4 PT: 5:15 PM EST
OP Race 9 PT: 6:11 PM EST
SA Race 7 PT: 7:07 PM EST

Jill Byrne is on-site and will be reporting for twinspires.com and HRTV, so go to the site and check it out.

Thanks for all the well wishes from everyone and I'll be back for an update after the racing ends today!

Good luck all!

NT

The GGF race sucks, all the rest are solid toughies.

Question for you, are they waiving the no-laptop rule? I know how many of the contest circuit people use them.

Going by M/L odds, which is precarious at best with Tampa, I'd take a long hard look at the 2 - Message of Myth at 12-1.

My $.02.

Scav's Mandatory plays
 

GP Race 4 PT: 2:42 PM EST = #9 Its a Ladies Life
GP Race 5 PT: 3:12 PM EST = #1 More Memories
Aqu Race 8 PT: 3:49 PM EST = #1 Run with the Lark
Tam Race 9 PT: 4:08 PM EST = #9 Arealhotlover
FG Race 8 PT: 4:55 PM EST = #1 Cactus Kitty
GG Race 4 PT: 5:15 PM EST = #5 Golden Pursuit
OP Race 9 PT: 6:11 PM EST = #5 Jack's Lil Bit
SA Race 7 PT: 7:07 PM EST = ?? Between #9 Omega Code and #3 Mensa Heat

Arealhotlover is 3-1 M/L. Nobody bets 3-1 with any regularity and wins a contest.

Come on Scav, find a price.

Dude, it is about winners at the mandatories. I also like Tip Along in that race.

If Arealhotlover is 7/5, well I am obviously wouldn't be playing it, but I think she is 3/1 or 5/2 and since I would HAVE to play the race, when not pick the winner :)

Bah. I wouldn't say she's the winner here.

This race is too wide open to go with anything less than 5-1. I'm using damn near all of them in my Pick 4...but given my track record over the last week or so, that doesn't mean anything.

I agree about the race, just thought the turf to dirt was a postive for her and she looked speed of the speed.

This was one of the good mandatories. Picking the 4th at Golden Gate is a travesty for the people in the DRF/NTRA.

I'll give it a try. I agree with most these are some poor races.

GP Race 4 PT: 2:42 PM EST Sail Free 6-1
GP Race 5 PT: 3:12 PM EST Rich Citizen 4-1
Aqu Race 8 PT: 3:49 PM EST Run with the Lark 10-1
Tam Race 9 PT: 4:08 PM EST Money Card 6-1
FG Race 8 PT: 4:55 PM EST Martin’s Bay 5/2
GG Race 4 PT: 5:15 PM EST Willie Katchem 8-1
OP Race 9 PT: 6:11 PM EST Streak Girl 6-1
SA Race 7 PT: 7:07 PM EST Liturgical 10-1

For the GGF race I'd go with #4 Joshua's Dream at 10-1, this is exactly the kind of race that the trainer, Genaro Vallejo, wins.

Because she is 9/5 and probably lower, I would be playing Tip Along here.....

Now you're getting with the program.

I know the damn program.

It is my goal to qualify for this damn this in 2009. What do you think about that NHCQualify.com thing? didn't you played through there?

Check your PM

Race was too short for her and too long for my 2.

Yeah, it was an interesting run race, think jock panic'ed a bit thinking he was too far behind...**** happens I guess....

Nice call Derby Cat- pd 18.80 :tro:

Thanks, GGF is my track and there are some plays that are easy to figure. Trainers get really streaky or win certain types of races and there are times when specific trainer/jockey combos are money. Vallejo has been :$: with Figueroa on route horse with double digit M/L.

Right now, trainer Steve Sherman is on fire with every type of horse/race. He's won 8 of his last 9 :eek:

Update after day 1:

Nick T is looking VERY strong in 19th place, with $100 (an outstanding score in this format.)

Paul & Bob in the middle of the pack with $52 and $43 respectively, still in it with a huge day tomorrow.


Good luck tomorrow guys.

If third place paid...sigh..

Nick kicking butt and great to meet him as well...Good guy

Good luck all three of you.

Tomorrow is border line impossible. Kudos to whoever picked the races because it will take some serious handicapping to get through it. ANYONE has a shot tomorrow.

It was an exciting opening day to the NHC.

My first optional play was Marky P at Tampa in the 4th and he got up at 13-1 to kick things off. I followed that up with a 2nd place finish in the 1st mandatory at GP. My only other winner on the day was It's Never To Late at GP in the feature who went wire to wire under E.T. Baird. A handful of 2nd place finishes at good numbers helped me work my way up the leader board.

Bob is a terrific guy as is Paul Weizer, so it's safe to say DT is represented with great people. There's still hope for a DT trifecta.

Good luck to everyone tomorrow!

NT

P.S. Here are the mandatories for tomorrow (nice to see Golden Gate got the boot)

Aqu Race 5 PT: 2:24 PM EST
Tam Race 7 PT: 3:16 PM EST
FG Race 5 PT: 3:25 PM EST
OP Race 6 PT: 4:33 PM EST
GP Race 9 PT: 5:05 PM EST
SA Race 6 PT: 5:23 PM EST
GP Race 10 PT: 5:45 PM EST
SA Race 11 PT: 7:57 PM EST

Ditto on Golden Gate...what a waste.

Nice job with ET on the engine...

Good luck the rest of the way Nick.

Knock em dead dudeys!

good luck today gentlemen. hope today is a steady stream of winners.

Using Ernie Mello as an optional play....cajones. Nice pick Nick.

Using the 7th at Tampa is easily the best race on the card. RBE already PM'd me trying to decipher it. Some big M/L horses with a big shot.

GL today DT Boys.

At least I'm eating well..Eggs over easy and hash brown breakfast, slice of pizza for lunch at the table and knocked back a bone in rib eye for dinner...Hope they hand out Crestor instead of racing forms today:o

A lot of wide open, big field races...which is a good thing. Should be fun.

Nick, Bob and Paul...

Good luck today...!!

Also to Ted Mudge (tied with with Paul at 115/116) and Johnny D (mired in 183rd)...

good luck today guys. stick to your plan.

good luck today and finish well.

Thanks all. I need a big day today but anything is possible.

Paul

There is no decifering, there is one play, Lil's Lassie!!

My Mandatory plays
Aqu Race 5 PT: 2:24 PM EST - #6 The Last Wave
Tam Race 7 PT: 3:16 PM EST - #8 Lil's Lassie
FG Race 5 PT: 3:25 PM EST - #8 Olemiss Rebel
OP Race 6 PT: 4:33 PM EST - #1 Fufty Too (Probably someone else if not above 3/1)
GP Race 9 PT: 5:05 PM EST - #5 Unfolding Wish
SA Race 6 PT: 5:23 PM EST - #4 Swift Winds
GP Race 10 PT: 5:45 PM EST - #5 Its a Bird
SA Race 11 PT: 7:57 PM EST - #12 Unusual Spirit

Aqu Race 5 PT: 2:24 PM EST - #6 The Last Wave = $24
Tam Race 7 PT: 3:16 PM EST - #8 Lil's Lassie = $6 (and a royal ****ing, 2nd time Montalvo has had the lead for me this meet with 10 yards to go to only get nipped)
FG Race 5 PT: 3:25 PM EST - #8 Olemiss Rebel = X
OP Race 6 PT: 4:33 PM EST - #1 Fufty Too (Probably someone else if not above 3/1)
GP Race 9 PT: 5:05 PM EST - #5 Unfolding Wish
SA Race 6 PT: 5:23 PM EST - #4 Swift Winds
GP Race 10 PT: 5:45 PM EST - #5 Its a Bird
SA Race 11 PT: 7:57 PM EST - #12 Unusual Spirit

Good call on It's a Bird... WINNER!

Vegas sucks doesn't it :p Is L out there with you?

Paul 43rd
GBBob 61st
NTAMM 99th

Where was JO?

110...he had a tough day