Most Powerful Handicapping Angles

Travis Stone · #1 01-25-2009, 11:59 AM

I'm refreshing the beginners handicapping course I teach at the local community college. Last year we spent one night talking about various handicapping angles, both good and bad. I wanted to toss the question out to DTers so I can maybe toss a few more angles in here or there to the course and keep it somewhat new to the regular attendees.

So if you wouldn't mind, what would you consider to be the most powerful (both positive and negative) angles in handicapping?

For what it's worth, here's what I would put:

1. Distance cut-back
2. Second-time starter off even debut
3. O2X (From the Sheet guys)

GPK · #2 01-25-2009, 12:08 PM

I like your first two. ( I don't use the sheets, so can't comment on the 3rd.)

I also like:

2 sprints to route, especially if the route is the 3rd off a layoff
Positive trainer switch being an obvious one as well.
Along the same lines of your 2nd start off an even debut, I also like the 2nd start being a turf route off an even dirt sprint debut.

and last but not least, anything Kurt Ziadie sents out at Tampa that David Cardoso ISN'T riding.

GPK · #3 01-25-2009, 12:39 PM

Travis, I assume you are relating to them that the most positive handicapping thing they can do lies in watching replays?

Travis Stone · #4 01-25-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPK

Travis, I assume you are relating to them that the most positive handicapping thing they can do lies in watching replays?

One session is all about trip handicapping, which really could warrant an entire course in itself. We usually do it towards the end of the course so we can apply the pace discussion among other things.

I remember I spent my sophomore year in college doing nothing but trip handicapping. I used to schedule my classes to optimize my time spent on Belmont Park. I had classes all day on Tues/Thurs, and can specifically remember getting caught handicapping the Friday card during "Communication Development in Children" on a Thursday evening.

ninetoone · #5 01-25-2009, 12:53 PM

They have college courses in handicapping....

...Boy, I missed the boat on that one.

GPK · #6 01-25-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

One session is all about trip handicapping, which really could warrant an entire course in itself. We usually do it towards the end of the course so we can apply the pace discussion among other things.

I remember I spent my sophomore year in college doing nothing but trip handicapping. I used to schedule my classes to optimize my time spent on Belmont Park. I had classes all day on Tues/Thurs, and can specifically remember getting caught handicapping the Friday card during "Communication Development in Children" on a Thursday evening.

See, when I was a kid, my Dad would just put his foot in my ass and tell me to go outside and play. Now that is teaching communication development in children!!

declansharbor · #7 01-25-2009, 01:11 PM

The cutback/stretchout is my favorite.(ex. Today @ Gulfstream R10-More Than Willing...chalk but still) I also like the class drop/hike.(class hike off the positive trainer switch is a good one) As Kev said, positive trainer switch is pretty much a given. One red flag for me in the claiming races, is never bet/key a horse in top position that's not in for full claiming price. I would also like to see steady works for the horse Im going to bet. Follow these rules and you can be a loser at the windows just like me.

2MinsToPost · #8 01-25-2009, 01:12 PM

A topic that I have made my goal to learn as much as possible about this year -

The difference in tracks. A classic current example is Calder versus Gulfstream. The deep Calder racing surface versus Gulfstream. In addition, the difference between Aqueducts Inner and Main, the long stretch at Churchill etc and how it affects the way you cap a past performance in relation to the track it is being run at.

dagolfer33 · #9 01-25-2009, 01:18 PM

I like looking for horses in sprints that have bullets on their worktabs and several races under their belt, but have not been able to get the lead in any of their races. Sometimes just a better break, or a slight jock upgrade can get theses types to wire the field at great prices.

Bigsmc · #10 01-25-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GPK

and last but not least, anything Kurt Ziadie sents out at Tampa that David Cardoso ISN'T riding.

That duo took down 50% of the Pick 4 today.

Travis Stone · #11 01-25-2009, 12:54 PM

Not to get too off topic but the course has been a huge success so far. After the first class (which sold-out with 30 students... it's an adult community education course) a couple which took the course claimed a horse the following week and won I think four or five of their next six races with the horse. I'm sure they didn't pick out the claim based upon "Speed Figures 101" but it was the fact it got them into the game. They haven't missed a course yet!

brianwspencer · #12 01-25-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

I'm refreshing the beginners handicapping course I teach at the local community college. Last year we spent one night talking about various handicapping angles, both good and bad. I wanted to toss the question out to DTers so I can maybe toss a few more angles in here or there to the course and keep it somewhat new to the regular attendees.

So if you wouldn't mind, what would you consider to be the most powerful (both positive and negative) angles in handicapping?

For what it's worth, here's what I would put:

1. Distance cut-back
2. Second-time starter off even debut
3. O2X (From the Sheet guys)

This sounds like a really cool course. More specifically, to your point #2, I'm usually impressed with a horse who may break poorly first time out but makes up some ground while finishing midpack. i don't want them just passing tired ones, but legitimately closing and showing some late interest once they get their head straight.