Folks...there is so much more to contest play than what I've seen here.
I belong to a "group" of excellent and experienced contest players. I would recomend reading Noel Michael most recent DRF publication as well as Horse Player Magazine and it's online website & blog. There is so many interesting blog items written on that site by many of the best contest players, it will blow your mind. There are also many other great products to use to help find those "optional races" whereby you can find value. Using the traditional proucts like DRF and Bris plus speed (TG or RAGS) & pace figure info is critical to finding value. There is another great product out there called HTR. I would suggest any serious player to get it. (Not cheap but not overly expensive either)
http://horseplayerdaily.21publish.com/Mall
Kasept may want to pay attention to an entry about halfway down the blog
Never play optional races with less than 8 entries usually try to target 10 entrants or more. The key is finding the races where you think there may be value (in your optional plays).
I recently qualified for the NTRA/DRF tournament coming up in January and I own parts of 3 other entries. A team approach with a quarterback on site, a lot of strong organization skills works best. If you want any more info please PM me.
If you ask me the Beaulah contest next weekend has 6 qualifying spots available, and that is the one I would target to play if I were you. I'll be there trying to qualify my wife, with a few known to be serious players, including one you can see on the TVG DRF contest commercial slapping his program and rooting home a winner.
NC Tony