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Originally Posted by phystech
The one thing you have to remember about claiming is that you really don't care how they run in the race you claim them out of - you care about the next race they run for YOU.
It isn't like handicapping where you want to win today because you want to see the payoff today. When claiming, someone else owns the horse today and you won't make a dime as an owner today.
Claiming is about looking down the road trying to find a horse that can run good for your trainer, and you, the next time out when you own the horse.
Naturally, you always want to see the horse come back ok from the race you claim out of so you aren't totally ignorant of today's race. And if they have a life condition, you don't want to see them win, thereby losing the condition.
Too many times after my trainer and I would claim a horse, if it ran poorly in the race we claimed out of, the Monday Morning Quarterbacks would all let out a groan in unison. "Why did we claim that one - you've got to be kidding me". But they always managed a smile the next race out when they were standing in the win circle counting their earnings. One thing about second-guessers after the claim - they never lose. If they are right and the horse runs bad, they play "I told you so". And if they are wrong and the horse earns a bunch of money, they still line their pockets with $$'s like everyone else.
It's always easier to second guess after the race is over than it is to put your nuts on the line prior to dropping the claim. Chuck and Steve are in a tough spot trying to claim a good horse for everyone. They have my deep respect for their efforts.
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Some of the most successful claims that I have made ran awful the day we claimed it. The day I claimed fast City he got beat 25 lengths in a maiden 30. He made about 200k and was stakes palced at CD and Sar.
I claimed a 1st time starter one time who won by 8 at Gulfstream. Owner was excited, thinking he had stole something. Scoped the horse. Vet says "this horse has the worst airway I have ever seen. WHow bad did it get beat?" I said he won by 8. He laughed and said that it was close to a miracle. I wanted to send him to NY and run him for double the tag, figuring someone will claim him because he ran a good speed figure. Owner overruled and made me run at Kee in an allowance. Got beat 20. Was running for 5k soon after.