Angle - Blinkers Off

[ArlJim78]

Okay handicapping Hollywood tonight and in the first race is a textbook blinkers off maiden horse that i referred to earlier.

Themis Valentine, the 3, has raced in blinkers four times and shows lots of speed especially to the half mile. After the half he slows up enough so that he's been caught each time although he's come close a few times.

Now the blinkers come off, Baze keeps the mount. Now this horse would be bet and would be logical even if the blinkers weren't coming off, after all its O'Neil. But he'd be no sure thing because of what looks like a tendency to come back late.

This is the type of situation were I would expect this horse to run very relaxed, not quite as fast early, and have plenty enough to hold off the others late. we'll see in about an hour.

[pmacdaddy]

Kept my eye out for Blinker changes when I looked at HOL.

Also noted, Race #3 Storm Ultra - added blinkers in last and was well bet on turf. Now keeps blinks going Turf / Synth.
Appears Turf is not preferred surface. Potential significance?

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by pmacdaddy

Kept my eye out for Blinker changes when I looked at HOL.

Also noted, Race #3 Storm Ultra - added blinkers in last and was well bet on turf. Now keeps blinks going Turf / Synth.
Appears Turf is not preferred surface. Potential significance?

i agree with the angle, but it will have to wait for another day as Storm Ultra is scratched.

[phystech]

Let me throw a curve in here - cheaters. What if you see a horse that's been running full cup blinks but now shows up with cheaters? What's the angle there as it relates to blinks off?

I always looked at the use of cheaters as a tool used by a trainer that doesn't want to do the gate work to take the blinks off - and that's assuming horses still have to go to the gate in the morning with blinks off to be able to make the equipment change. By using cheaters, if the blinks off don't work, the trainer doesn't have to go back to the gate again to get the blinks back on.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by phystech

Let me throw a curve in here - cheaters. What if you see a horse that's been running full cup blinks but now shows up with cheaters? What's the angle there as it relates to blinks off?

I always looked at the use of cheaters as a tool used by a trainer that doesn't want to do the gate work to take the blinks off - and that's assuming horses still have to go to the gate in the morning with blinks off to be able to make the equipment change. By using cheaters, if the blinks off don't work, the trainer doesn't have to go back to the gate again to get the blinks back on.

Personally i've never gone to that level of detail, cheaters vs. full cup.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Okay handicapping Hollywood tonight and in the first race is a textbook blinkers off maiden horse that i referred to earlier.

Themis Valentine, the 3, has raced in blinkers four times and shows lots of speed especially to the half mile. After the half he slows up enough so that he's been caught each time although he's come close a few times.

Now the blinkers come off, Baze keeps the mount. Now this horse would be bet and would be logical even if the blinkers weren't coming off, after all its O'Neil. But he'd be no sure thing because of what looks like a tendency to come back late.

This is the type of situation were I would expect this horse to run very relaxed, not quite as fast early, and have plenty enough to hold off the others late. we'll see in about an hour.

haha, the horse wasn't relaxed at all, and out of the gate I didn't like his stride at all, short and choppy. didn't look good at all after taking all kinds of money.

[Scav]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

Okay handicapping Hollywood tonight and in the first race is a textbook blinkers off maiden horse that i referred to earlier.

Themis Valentine, the 3, has raced in blinkers four times and shows lots of speed especially to the half mile. After the half he slows up enough so that he's been caught each time although he's come close a few times.

Now the blinkers come off, Baze keeps the mount. Now this horse would be bet and would be logical even if the blinkers weren't coming off, after all its O'Neil. But he'd be no sure thing because of what looks like a tendency to come back late.

This is the type of situation were I would expect this horse to run very relaxed, not quite as fast early, and have plenty enough to hold off the others late. we'll see in about an hour.

Next stop Golden Gate for Themis Valentine

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Scav

Next stop Golden Gate for Themis Valentine

maybe, he looked very bad.

[pmacdaddy]

Stolen Star in 7th at BEL today looks like Blinks Off candidate to me (6-1ML). Loses shades for 2nd off layoff start. Career best was last spring same surface, dist, no blinks. I will be including in pick4.