Venue for August 1 . . .

[JolyB]

Originally Posted by RUFFIAN-333

BLOODHORSE

Trainer Bob Baffert said July 29 that he intends to scratch
four-time grade 1 winner McKinzie
from the $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.

The son of Street Sense drew post 4 for the Aug. 1 sprint,
a factor that the Hall of Fame trainer believes could adversely affect
the horse's chances at victory based on what he's seen so far this season.

"I didn't like what he drew," Baffert said.
"He drew the inside, and this track hasn't been playing very good.

It's been really deep and loose.
If it would have been a shorter field and he drew outside,
we would have maybe taken a chance at it
because he needs to get pace around there.

But right now it's playing sort of weird."

What a strange comment. I've heard trainers announce scratches after drawing the rail or after getting the far outside on a two turn race. I think that this is the first time that I've heard of a trainer scratching an otherwise sound horse because he didn't like post 4. I had been wondering why Mr. Baffert decided to enter McK in a 6 furlong sprint. That hasn't been his forte. Is there something else besides the "horrible" post?

[DonGuido]

Originally Posted by JolyB

What a strange comment. I've heard trainers announce scratches after drawing the rail or after getting the far outside on a two turn race. I think that this is the first time that I've heard of a trainer scratching an otherwise sound horse because he didn't like post 4. I had been wondering why Mr. Baffert decided to enter McK in a 6 furlong sprint. That hasn't been his forte. Is there something else besides the "horrible" post?

It sounds very strange to say the least???

[RUFFIAN]

Very sad
almost pathetic
to see ONLY 5 horses in the Whitney

[Real Quiet]

Agreed. They might be 5 good horses but 5 is still only 5 and leaves a lot to be desired if you're betting on the race.

[cal828]

Anybody playing in the Saratoga Handicapping Challenge? Only 5,000 dollars. No me neither, but might be fun to make some imaginary bets to see how we might have done had we played. Rules as I understand them are that you must make a bet of at least $250 for 10 of the 12 races offered. Of course, if you win along the way or you feel more daring, you can bet more. I think what generally happens in these contests is that players make the minimum bets in several races and may play bigger on races they may feel more confident about and then, if they do well, they make a really big bet in one of the later races at the end of the contest. Bets can be WPS, Exactas, Quinellas, Tris and Daily Doubles.

[JolyB]

Originally Posted by cal828

Anybody playing in the Saratoga Handicapping Challenge? Only 5,000 dollars. No me neither, but might be fun to make some imaginary bets to see how we might have done had we played. Rules as I understand them are that you must make a bet of at least $250 for 10 of the 12 races offered. Of course, if you win along the way or you feel more daring, you can bet more. I think what generally happens in these contests is that players make the minimum bets in several races and may play bigger on races they may feel more confident about and then, if they do well, they make a really big bet in one of the later races at the end of the contest. Bets can be WPS, Exactas, Quinellas, Tris and Daily Doubles.

Just a "bit" too rich for my blood, although the contest hosts appear to apply all of the entry money toward prizes, so there is no takeout for your investment. I don't know any way to really play along without doing it race by race and making the determination of what to wager on and how much to wager based on both your remaining bankroll and what your opponents are doing. $2,500 of the upfront money goes to your bankroll, and you keep whatever is in your bankroll at the end of the day. As you approach the final races, I imagine there are some very tough decisions of how much of your bankroll you want to risk on a final bet to try to win one of the NHC seats or cash prizes versus having a sizeable bankroll to take home at the end of the day.

[cal828]

I agree, not much way to make it like the real contest as there is strategy involved in the latter stages of the contest depending on how much you are ahead or behind, but still, you could make imaginary minimum bets in all races to determine whether you would have anything at the end of the contest or whether you would have gone bust before the end. Not perfect, but might give you an idea of how you might have done.

I am not familiar with where all these live money contests are played. I imagine that the one that just concluded at Monmouth might have been the one to play from the cost angle. It was $2000, but all Monmouth races. Del Mar also has one. It is $8000 and there are others. Of course, the mother of all contests is the BCBC at $10000.

Yep, that "sizable bankroll to take home at the end of the day" is what would bother me. It would be hard for me to throw caution to the wind and not at least take my entry fee home, but the winners of such contests are very brave and probably have deeper pockets than me.