Let the Games Begin!

[Whirlaway]

DDT,

A brief synopsis of the rules - I am open to your input on the rules. Rules are subject to change until 12:00 EST 11/27.

Rules: Above all else, this will be a friendly handicapping competition. Handicapping competition begins tomorrow with the Remsen Stakes and ends with the Kentucky Derby 2011. He with the most total points wins. One pick per race, 5 points for the Win; 3 points for the Place; 1 Point for the show. One race per week with competitors alternating choice of race. Pick must be posted no later than 12:00 noon EST the day of the race.

[ I only see two complications - 1) if we both choose the same horse 2) I don't expect to pick a race every week until the Derby - what if one of us cannot make a pick that week?]

{ If one competitor cannot be present for a pick that week, there will be no penalty and the competition will be skipped that week. The competitor with the race pick retains that choice.}

Let me know what you think about the rules before noon tomorrow.

~

I'll start the race picks off with the Remsen Stakes, you can pick the race next week. Here is the link to finding free past performances - you can make your race pick from this link - this link does not give all of the races but most of the races; it provides free past performances. http://horseracing.about.com/od/racedayinfo/a/aafree-pps.htm

The link to the Remsen Stakes past performances can be found under: DARLEY STALLIONS PPS

Best of Racing Luck
_________________
Class and condition, pace wins the race.

[DDT]

Whirlaway

I guess if we both pick the same horse we both receive the points unless you want to try something else.

If you cannot make a Saturday just let me know and we can wait until the next week, however, just handicapping stakes races is not a true test of handicapping ability in my opinion. Why don't we just use the Daily Racing Form race of the day for each Saturday in play, if you go to dailyracingform.com the race of the day is listed on the front page with the free pp square. Then we do not have to each alternate picking races to use, we can let the DRF staff decide that for us.

If your selection is not posted by 12:00 Noon on race day it will be assumed that you cannot enter that week. The Remsen is the first play.

Anything else?

DDT

[Whirlaway]

Agreed. We will use the DRF race of the day for each Saturday. We will start with the Remsen Stakes tomorrow.
~
What about a hypothetical $2 WPS bet on each race - we can then calculate who wins the most money. This may also prevent both of us from picking the favorite. When we make our picks I would also like to include a brief explanation as to why that pick was made.

Who wins the game, most points or most money?
_________________
Class and condition, pace wins the race.

[Georgerz]

Not that I may, but is anyone else allowed to tag along?

[DDT]

Whirlaway

I see no reason why anybody else could not play along, the more players the better the game. Can we start with two races? I really like the Cigar Mile at Aqu tomorrow also, and the pp's are already posted, what do you say to the first play being the Remsen and the Mile? Win/Place/Show is okay and we can have two chances to win (1) most winners picked and (2) the highest ROI based on $2.00 wagers.

Let me know and I will post my first picks.

DDT

[Whirlaway]

For now, lets stick to what has been agreed to: DRF race of the day each Saturday - Remsen Stakes starts the competition. Sure Georgerz, why not! Lets keep it at three only - we all have to compete each Saturday for anything to be tabulated.

Let the Games Begin!
_________________
Class and condition, pace wins the race.

[DDT]

Whirlaway

I like To Honor And Serve as my first pick. He had a little trouble in his first start and lost to an eventual G3 stakes winner. Since then he broke his maiden in his 2nd start and comes into this with a wire to wire win in the Nashua over this track. He comes in with a very good work, I like him a lot. Trouble is so will everybody else. I hate to play the favorite but I think they have him to beat and I do not believe they will.

$2.00 across the board on To Honor and Serve.

One thing we did not discuss is what happens if the horse you pick is a late scratch? I think we should have a back up horse for that purpose and that selection only comes into play if your main selection is a late scratch. For my back up selection in case of a scratch I select Bandbox.

DDT

[Whirlaway]

To Honor and Serve will be tough to beat. He's the class, had it easy in his last w/a speed bias, gets the same track and has the best figures. Two races in three weeks may be too ambitious for this type . . . with some early pressure he may flatten - I like him, but I bet against at 6/5.

I like Bandbox to upset. I thought his class was hard to figure, hasn't run the distance, but he shows two solid 7fl races, both w/ troubled trips, two bullet works and a good mile work. If he can sit tight in the catbird seat and the speed up front flattens, he might get this one. We'll see what he has for em' at 12/1.

$ 2 United States Dollars across the board on Bandbox.
~
If the horse you pick is a late scratch, lets call it no contest.
_________________
Class and condition, pace wins the race.

[Whirlaway]

Interesting in the very first race of the Games we get to take a look at the Double Beyer Advantage - how well it does and what the odds will be for a horse that shows the fastest two figures coming into this race. Will he win and go off at less than even money? I noticed the DBA does not "eliminate" is how often a horse runs. In this case THAS will be running twice in three weeks - no doubt his last race was a breeze, nevertheless, we don't usually see that too often.

I thought the one horse Buffum had a shot at this one breaking his maiden at 62k at first asking at a mile . . . He gets the inside on a speed biased track. I'd like to see him hook THAS and run a 71 second 6fl like he did in his last out, that will make this one interesting.
_________________
Class and condition, pace wins the race.

[DDT]

Whirlaway

I do not have the Beyer numbers for the Remsen, however, if To Honor and Serve does indeed have the highest last race Beyer and highest 2nd race back Beyer he does qualify as a Double Beyer play. I selected him from the Bris PP's.

Good luck getting 12-1 with Dominguez aboard.

DDT

[Whirlaway]

I stand corrected, and yes indeed as you have written those speed figures are BRIS past performance speed figures not Beyer Speed Figures so the Beyer Double Advantage does not come into play today . . . might we be on to something with the BRIS Double Advantage? - It would be interesting to see the difference between the BRIS and Beyer figures.

Where is our third competitor Georgerz this morning?
~
Best of racing luck w/ To Honor and Serve.
_________________
Class and condition, pace wins the race.

[DDT]

Whirlaway

For your information I have also charted the results of over 500 Bris double speed figures as well as track speed ratings and neither compare to the results of double Beyers. Bris figures charted out at about a 35% win average and the track speed numbers were about 28%. I am not a big Beyer fan and only began my project in 1996 after reading his (Beyer) claim that a double figure advantage presented a good wagering opportunity. As it turned out he was correct in saying that.

DDT

[DDT]

Whirlaway

Buffum comes into this race with a last race Bris number of 105 compared to 101 for To Honor and Serve, why would you think that To Honor and Serve has a double advantage?

DDT

[Whirlaway]

Indeed your are correct he does not have the two highest BRIS figures. I'm a bit rusty and do need some work; I will not use that as an excuse. I like the BRIS past performances because of their different angles, but I have always used the DRF past performances.

Of course you saw it will be first time Lasix for this Albertrani runner, - looks like they are going all out for this one in what appears to be an effort to increase his graded stakes earnings. I just hope the jockey for Buffum doesn't let To Honor and Serve get loose on the lead; I need some good pressure up front . . . unfortunately I don't believe this one will be televised.
_________________
Class and condition, pace wins the race.

[DDT]

Whirlaway

Just go to aqueduct.com, scroll down and on the left hand side you will see video replays, click that on, log in free, and you can watch the replays. Once you long in it is good for Aqueduct, Belmont or Saratoga. The stakes replays are also available free on dailyracingform.com and bloodhorse.com.

We had a couple of scratches in the Remsen, down to a five horse field.

Darley paid over a million for Buffum and I am sure they want to see how he can do in stakes company. I like his trainer very much.

DDT