Handicapping 101 - "wraps"

[Rudeboyelvis]

Depends on the condition of the race for me - in claiming races, I ignore it.
It's an ancient trick in the claiming game to add them in the hopes you may fool a potential claimant into believing there may be something wrong thus keeping a horse that you don't want to lose. I don't pretend to know to what degree this happens, or how successful it is, but fairly certain that it's enough to make it a non issue.

To look at Kev's example:
>>>Thursday's 6th race at Tampa. It was a straight 6,250 claimer, 4 & up, going 6 furlongs. BARNEY SMITH (#4 horse) was being bet to heavy favoritism. He seemed, IMO, the most logical winner. He was in good formand and he was coming off 2 nice wins (the last at the same 6,250 level) and good 2nd place his 3rd race back. He figured to get the pace he needs to close into, so that just confirmed to me he would be very tough to deny.<<<

The horse is prime claim bait - sound as a board, gives a solid, even account of himself every time out, obviously likes to win, and handled the same company by 5 lengths last out even going 5 wide in the stretch to do so. The owner can either move him up to 8 and struggle with the competition ( or there may not have been an 8 written) , or keep him at the same level knowing that there would be eyes on him at the claim box. Put on fronts, and hope it's enough to disuade folks to spend their 6250.00 someplace else.

I think he just threw in a clunker of a race, but on the positiive side for the owner, this sets up for another run at the level without much interest in him...