Saturday Saratoga Race Card

[pointman]

Personally I will take a $20K claimer with a full field over a stake with a 6 horse field with one horse that overmatches the field at less then even money and two horses will scratch.

Those $20K claimers can yield some nice prices.

[richard]

Exactly. They are still competitive races and as challenging to handicap as any.

[10 pnt move up]

I think you want a good mix of races, last thing I want to see is 3-4 2yo maidens.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

I think you want a good mix of races, last thing I want to see is 3-4 2yo maidens.

But others, like me, love these races. Players that are at their best at claimers could tell you the BC card is no good as clearly there is no mix of races those days.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

But others, like me, love these races. Players that are at their best at claimers could tell you the BC card is no good as clearly there is no mix of races those days.

The Breeders Cup Card is and always was hand down, by a mile, the best card of the year.

Almost everyone able shows up (only those crazy sup fees for horses with obscure pedigrees sometimes keep contenders away) and most importantly -- you get a mix of horses from all different regions...which is the test any good handicapper should want.

Even among people considered good handicappers -- a lot of them focus and waste way too much of their energy on a home track and pay little to no attention elsewhere. There aren't enough racing days like it anymore where you get entire cards loaded with quality shippers from all different regions.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The Breeders Cup Card is and always was hand down, by a mile, the best card of the year.

Almost everyone able shows up (only those crazy sup fees for horses with obscure pedigrees sometimes keep contenders away) and most importantly -- you get a mix of horses from all different regions...which is the test any good handicapper should want.

Even among people considered good handicappers -- a lot of them focus and waste way too much of their energy on a home track and pay little to no attention elsewhere. There aren't enough racing days like it anymore where you get entire cards loaded with quality shippers from all different regions.

And you don't have to deal with trainers using the race as a prep for something else.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

The Breeders Cup Card is and always was hand down, by a mile, the best card of the year.

Almost everyone able shows up (only those crazy sup fees for horses with obscure pedigrees sometimes keep contenders away) and most importantly -- you get a mix of horses from all different regions...which is the test any good handicapper should want.

Even among people considered good handicappers -- a lot of them focus and waste way too much of their energy on a home track and pay little to no attention elsewhere. There aren't enough racing days like it anymore where you get entire cards loaded with quality shippers from all different regions.

I don't disagree on that standpoint, but I guaranteee you there are guys out there who don't touch it or watch it because it isn't what they play. For them it's not a good card.

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

I don't disagree on that standpoint, but I guaranteee you there are guys out there who don't touch it or watch it because it isn't what they play. For them it's not a good card.

I don't know -- a dedicated horseplayer that does not bet or even watch the Breeders Cup? To me, they would be the ultimate outlier.