Friday, November 2, 2012

11/2/12 SA - Race 5 - Preview

Going with # 5 Jaycito; though not crazy about his lack of a win on a dirt track.  Swinging for the fences with the Exacta.  May regret leaving # 1 Atigun out of top spot; I'm betting that he doesn't last the distance; we'll see.

$5 WPS 5
$2 WPS 10
$1 EX BX 5 / 10 / 14
$1 EX 5, 10 / 1, 5, 10, 14

Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo 

11/2/12 SA - Race 4 - Preview

Chalking out; well, mostly:

$5 WPS 3 (Merit Man)
$2 WPS 6 (Hazardous)
$2 EX 3 / 6
$1 EX 6 / 3
$2 DBL 3, 6 / 1, 5, 10

Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

11/2/12 SA - Race 3 - Preview

Throwing # 8 Sir Allison (ML 6-1) into the mix because I like the change of pace in his last race.

$5 WPS 1
$2 EX BX 1 / 7
$1 EX BX 1 / 7 / 8
$1 TRI BX 1 / 7 /8
$2DBL 1, 7, 8 / 3

Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

11/2/12 SA - Race 2 - Preview

# 9 Magical Band (ML 8-1) looks to have a pace advantage.  Have to respect the favorite, # 7 Big Tiz (ML 2-1).  # 5 Warren's Amber (ML 5-1) gets some class relief and goes back to her preferred surface.

$5 WPS 9
$1 EX BX 7 / 9
$1 EX BX 5 / 7 / 9
#1 EX 7, 9 / 5, 7, 9, 10
$0.10 SPR BX 5 / 7 / 9 / 10

Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

11/2/12 SA - Race 1 - Preview

The first race of the day and the last race of the day are notorious for being overbet; and I suspect I've fallen into that trap.  I'm betting that # 11 Quail Hill (ML 6-1) will jump to the front early, and then lead the pack home.  With that in mind, my plays for Race 1 on this Breeders' Cup Friday are as follows:

$5 WPS 11
$2 DBL 11 / 7, 9, 10
$1 PK3 11 / 7 / 1, 7, 8
$0.50 PK3 11 / 7, 9, 10 / 1, 7, 8
$0.50 PK5 11 / 7, 9, 10 / 1, 7, 8 / 3, 6 / 5

Good luck to all.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo

2012 Breeders' Cup - Preview

It's Friday, Day One of The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, America's Day (well, now Days) at the Races.

If you've come here looking for a run down and analysis of each of the fifteen Breeders' Cup races, I'm about to disappoint you.  Quite frankly, that's just too many races with too many horses for me to give a preview that would actually be worth reading; not to mention that almost anything I would write about each entrant would be pretty much a regurgitation of what somebody else on the net has already written.  

If you're looking for quality race-by-race analysis for free, I can point you towards the Brisnet web site, which has some Grade One insights into Friday's and Saturday's events.  If you're willing to divulge your name and email address, Xpressbet.com is offering a free Breeders' Cup Wagering Guide, containing insights from such respected analysts as Steve Byk, Jennie Rees, Mike Battaglia, and Dick Jerardi.  So while I could post several thousand words of analysis about the big races over the next two days, it's unlikely that I can top anything that's already out there.

Since my plans to be in Vegas today and tomorrow have fallen through, what I hope to do instead, Good Lord willing, is live blog how I'll be playing each of the races today, posting prior to each post time the wagers that I'll be making.  Depending on how it goes, this could be a source of later acclaim; or it could prove to be something that many will be able to point to and laugh; time will tell.

One tiny bit of insight that I can tell you is this: that which makes The Breeders' Cup races unique, is that each field is comprised of nothing but top of the line horses; so no matter who you land on in any given race, you're going to be betting on a quality horse.  Because of that, these races are a bargain hunter's dream.  For example, where else but in a Breeders' Cup race are you going to find a horse like Lady of Shamrock, winner of Grade One races her last two times out, and just a nose away from five consecutive stakes victories, with Morning Line odds of 12-1?  Or My Miss Aurelia, six-for-six lifetime, half of those coming in Grade One races, with a Morning Line of 4-1?  So if you're the type that likes to swing for the fences and go for price, these races are for you.

The other tip I would give to all who are reading this is: be flexible.  Be ready to change your plans if and when new data becomes available.  Remember the Life At Ten Incident; sometimes key information doesn't become known until just a few minutes prior to post.  So be alert to how the track is playing; watch the board to see which horses are getting ignored by the public; observe which jockey(s) seems to know exactly which lane to take to the finish line in the stretch; and don't be afraid to re-think your opinion in light of new facts.

And finally, above all: HAVE FUN.  If you're a horse player, these are your events.  This is where you get to see the best compete against the best, in pretty much every category imaginable.  Enjoy the competition; enjoy the improvement of the breed; enjoy watching these great athletes strut their stuff; enjoy yourself; because if you're not having fun, why bother?

Peace and Love,

Jimbo