Vic Stauffer wins SA Preakness Challenge; Tywizard 4th..

[jms62]

Originally Posted by tywizard

Thanks to all. It was a fun weekend for sure.

I've learned a lot over the years from this board and ATR. Specifically, Jack and Nick have been very helpful as it relates to contests and strategy.

I always find it informative to hear the general strategy people use in live bankroll contests so I'll give a quick overview:

I went in knowing that I'd focus primarily on the Dixie, Preakness and Mizdirection Stakes - Initially, I was basically without a plan for Sunday.

Key wagers were...

$50 Ex Minster'sadventure - Miss Star Maker
$60 Ex Takeover Target - Ring Weekend
$100 Ex Exaggerator - Cherry Wine
$120 Double into Wild Dude
$50 Ex Sweet - Grandma's Hands

Nyquist winning actually would have been better for me had Cherry Wine still finished second. If Miss Double D'oro would have got up to win the Mizdirection I would have had a $200 Double from Wild Dude and another $150 Double into the eventual winner of the night cap. Hard to complain with the outcome and who's to say others wouldn't have had those for even more than me.

I played relatively conservative on Sunday and only took big swings on the Sweet race and the feature (needed either of the Hollendorfer's in there).

Initially, I was upset they decided to not allow trifectas. In hindsight, I'm convinced that I would have spread too much on trifectas and likely wouldn't have done as well.

A great contest and they take care of you out there.

Great job... Were those cold exacta's or boxed?

[tywizard]

Originally Posted by jms62

Great job... Were those cold exacta's or boxed?

Neither for the most part.

I did box the Miss Star Maker race.

I keyed Takeover Target on top with a few in second at various amounts. Would have been better for me had Grand Arch gotten second.

I keyed Cherry Wine in second under Nyquist and Exaggerator - I didn't play Cherry Wine on top because I had him "protected" in doubles if he were to win.

I used 4 horses in the Sweet race but only 3 in the win slot and the best combination came through for me based on how I bet the race.

I played to specific payouts if that makes sense...So altered the amount bet so it was roughly the same payout regardless of which one of my opinions within the race hit. I did go heaviest on Takeover Target - Grand Arch and Nyquist - Cherry Wine. I originally thought I had Takeover Target - Ring Weekend for $120 but at the window I halved that amount at the last second in favor of going heavier on Grand Arch.

[pweizer]

Ty,

I think your approach was very sound. My strategy in live money events is to pass through as many races as I need to allow me to bet heavily on my few strong opinions. To have success, you need at least one good opinion and you have to have the stomach to make big bets.

You had several good opinions and made them count. Congratulations.

Paul

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by pweizer

Ty,

I think your approach was very sound. My strategy in live money events is to pass through as many races as I need to allow me to bet heavily on my few strong opinions. To have success, you need at least one good opinion and you have to have the stomach to make big bets.

You had several good opinions and made them count. Congratulations.

Paul

Well said Paul and congrats to both Ty and Vic. Their dichotomous approaches are great lessons in how to play live money tournaments. When I've had success, it has been a grind. I prefer to play more races in an attempt to setup what might be a bigger opinion. This style can be badly flawed as early bad opinions can sink me altogether. Vic won the tournament with two sizable win bets on very logical horses Saturday. That's a great approach.

It also seemed like the no trifecta but doubles rule worked out well. Will be interesting to see if that is used at future tournaments.

[TheSpyder]

Great Job Guys!

[Alabama Stakes]

interesting thread here. Some congrats, some no. Lotta love for Vic