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  #1  
Old 04-07-2021, 04:59 PM
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RUFFIAN RUFFIAN is offline
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Very disappointing to see only 6 in the Arkansas derby

Probably will be Oaklawn Park + *** Bonus of the Lexington
Which almost looks better than the Arkansas derby

Will decide later on and post the final decision tonight
.............. Or by tomorrow morning
A = OAKLAWN WITH LEXINGTON BONUS

B = ***** OR ~ DO U PREFER KEENELAND WITH ARKANSAS DERBY AS BONUS? *****

*********** OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS WELCOMED

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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Last edited by RUFFIAN : 04-07-2021 at 06:23 PM.
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  #2  
Old 04-07-2021, 06:57 PM
JolyB JolyB is online now
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I don't think that you could go wrong with either choice. Both of the cards appear to be very strong. I'm sure that whatever you choose most of us will be interested in the Arkansas Derby because of its KY Derby implications. At this point Concert Tour will be one of the top contenders. Unfortunately it isn't as great a race for our contest purposes. Many of us would likely play it in much the same way in the points contest. The Count Fleet should be very interesting with a rematch of Whitmore and CZ Rocket. They put on a real show in the Hot Springs S. and should do so again. I just wish that the Racing Secretary didn't get carried away and write a 13 race card. I know that they all do that on big race days to maximize the handle, but sometimes it seems excessive.

The Keeneland card also looks to be of quality although the Lexington does not have the same Derby importance. It only yields 20 points to the winner compared to 100 to the winner of the Arkansas Derby. In fact the Jenny Wiley is probably the feature race on the card.

As I said before you are in the wonderful position of having two very nice choices. I am going to take a somewhat contrarian position by suggesting that having a so-called bonus race doesn't always add to the quality or enjoyability of our contest. For a major race most of us will pay attention to it whether or not it is part of our contest.

By the way congrats on your very strong points win last Saturday.
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  #3  
Old 04-07-2021, 07:52 PM
cal828 cal828 is offline
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13 races a few too many at Oaklawn. I don't think those first 4 races would be missed. Start with Race 5 and go through Race 13 and add the Lexington. That would be 10 races.
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  #4  
Old 04-07-2021, 08:45 PM
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RUFFIAN RUFFIAN is offline
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(JOLY = “In fact the Jenny Wiley is probably the feature race on the card.”


A $300K Race And ONLY 6 Bother to Enter

i Just Don’t Get It!
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  #5  
Old 04-08-2021, 08:00 AM
JolyB JolyB is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RUFFIAN View Post
(JOLY = “In fact the Jenny Wiley is probably the feature race on the card.”


A $300K Race And ONLY 6 Bother to Enter

i Just Don’t Get It!
Sadly that seems to occur with many major stakes races during the course of the year. The lower level Md Cl will often have a larger field than a graded stakes. I don't think that the expense of nomination, entry and starting fees for some stakes races is much of a factor, although such fees do add up. Perhaps trainers of high level horses don't enter them as frequently as they do lower level claimers so there are too many stakes races for too few horses who want to run in them. I suspect the fact that horses have more value as stallions or broodmares after their racing careers are over has much to do with this. Instead of trying to win lots of purses they are trying to find races where they won't be beaten and thereby build up a winning resume for the auction ring.
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Old 04-08-2021, 09:23 AM
cal828 cal828 is offline
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I don't know what the cause is, but I can't ever remember a 6 horse Arkansas Derby. I wonder whether it might have something to do with changing their schedule for the Racing Festival of the South to occur on 3 weekends and not 2. It used to be that the Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn Handicap and Count Fleet and Apple Blossom happened on the same weekend and now the Apple Blossom and Oaklawn will not be run this coming weekend, but will be run next weekend.
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  #7  
Old 04-08-2021, 09:58 AM
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RUFFIAN RUFFIAN is offline
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT IS GIVING ME INDIGESTION

OAKLAWN = BIGGER PURSES
KEENELAND = BETTER JOCKEYS

I almost wish somebody else had Won this week
So this decision would be theirs and not mine

Am Leaning Towards OP R5-13 + Lexington

I will make the final decision later today and post by tonight

*** I welcome all opinions and thoughts on this ... PLEASE

To get a general idea of what the majority of players prefer
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  #8  
Old 04-08-2021, 10:01 AM
cal828 cal828 is offline
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Don't take it too seriously. After all, we've had weekends that were way more terrible than this one with fewer options. As Joly said, which ever you go with will be ok. To me, even though there are some short fields at both venues, the Oaklawn Mile is a nice race and Lexington isn't bad and I think we can play both along with some nice supporting allowances and even a couple of maidens. So, in my opinion, there should be a little something for everyone whichever venue you choose.
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  #9  
Old 04-08-2021, 10:06 AM
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THANKS CAL

Mucho Appreciado
I’m sending you a “Virtual “ Hug and a Basket Of Kittens
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  #10  
Old 04-08-2021, 11:04 AM
cal828 cal828 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RUFFIAN View Post
THANKS CAL

Mucho Appreciado
I’m sending you a “Virtual “ Hug and a Basket Of Kittens
Thanks. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to them and to horses and really to most dogs, especially the short haired variety, but they all know that I love them and so, if I am around them, they head right for me and I start itching and sneezing, etc. Even so, I defy nature by having dogs and they keep me busy and provide me with companionship or else I would probably be mad as a hatter. Sort of funny, one of my deceased wife's High School girlfriends wanted to fix me up with one of her friends so that we both would have someone to do things and go places with, but in the age of Covid, I declined and so did the friend. Maybe when we all reach herd immunity, I will have to explore the situation a little more seriously.
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  #11  
Old 04-08-2021, 11:36 AM
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RUFFIAN RUFFIAN is offline
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CAL
I HAVE
PERSIAN CAT 🐱
PONY 🐎
POMERANIAN 🐕
A Life Of “P”

NO MAN = NO AGGRAVATION 😉
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  #12  
Old 04-08-2021, 12:09 PM
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RUFFIAN RUFFIAN is offline
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Default Final Decision

My Head Is Exploding
The Decision So Hard
To Finally Decide
On The Saturday Card

I Personally Am NEVER in favor of eliminating ANY Races ��

But being considerate of the Scorekeepers ��
I will make an exception for Saturday
Going against my Heart �� to play the entire card

***** OAKLAWN RACE 5–13 *****
N And ~ LEXINGTON {R9 Keeneland}
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Last edited by RUFFIAN : 04-08-2021 at 06:49 PM.
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  #13  
Old 04-08-2021, 06:31 PM
Alli Alli is offline
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Good choice, Ruffian. See ya Saturday.
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