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Thoro-Graph
I have the same amount of actual proof as everybody on this Board re whether Baffert or any of the other super trainers use whatever they use. I first became suspicious when Real Quiet won the first two legs in 1998. In order to discount the probability/possibility that a tad of chemistry was involved, you need to close your eyes and accept that Baffert did this masterful training job on a horse
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I seek to take nothing away from Justify and his triple crown. But isn’t it possible to consider he did not beat much? . The time of the race was pedestrian and was over after 50 yards. With the exception of Gronkowski and what passed for a close, nobody ran a lick. A simple reading of the chart supports this assertion,i.e, Gronkowski “lumbered his way out of the starting gateâ€, Hofburg “
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Silver- isn’t it sort of damned if you do and damned if you don’t?. Had Justify’s works been pedestrian this Board would be loaded with comments that the works wer evidence he is over the top. I confess to being agnostic re Justfy in the Belmont (not because of number power, but my fear that the wear and tear of his campaign will catch up to him in the last quarter mile). I do hope that the
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I am currently agnostic re Justify in Belmont but his breeding will not be the issue. FWIW the odds are +260 for a Justify Triple Crown AND a Golden Knights Stanley Cup!
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TP-When OTBs started in the 1960s ( you were clearly not yet around) everyone said the same thing and that was long before ADWs and the invention of the internet. While it may take awhile for regulators in most states to figure this out, a huuuuge new market is about to open. I have never made a sports bet with a bookie ( have a brother and friend in your city so it doesn’t matter) but I will
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Every “sports betting†stock is up - Betfair, William Hill ( set to run the NJ operation) and beloved CDI. The Disney folks must be tripping over themselves with joy at the potential increased viewership for ESPN. The impact of this decision goes way way beyond its impact on Monmouth. It is likely that the betting world as we know it has just undergone a seismic change. The only question
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Had Willie played where Hank Aaron played( this is for you TGJB) he would have likely hit 800- 900 homers!
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as long as we are talking about baseball, the greatest ball player who ever lived celebrates his 87tt Birthday today- he wore number 24- nuff said!
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Q- red boarding and silly criticism isn’t well received on this site. But, on behalf of TGraph customers everywhere we hereby give you the opportunity —indeed, we implore you- to post your picks and analysis for the entire Preakness, Belmont day, travers, and Breeders cup cards BEFORE they are run and we can evaluate your acumen. How about it?
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While I believe tournaments have a role in the gaming part of horse racing, the notion that tournaments with substantial buy-ins will attract new and younger players is a fantasy.Today's younger gambler has grown up with a need for instant gratification and I can think of no reason--and know no one-who has a desire to learn the intricacies of handicapping, money management and betting merely
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BT - much of breeding info re 2 year olds on sheets goes back several generations- often 3d and 4 th dams. I assume if not published by TG with respect to a particular horse, it is not available. Jerry or Alan can correct me if Inam mistaken.
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Bluechip-to add to Frank Ds point, in 2 year old races time spent is time rewarded in a difficult area of the game. Any dam that ran less than a 10 as a 2 year old gets a bonus point, less than 7 , 2 bonus points. etc.I will also look at 2d dams since there may have been an unexplained reason the first dam had no 2 year old number. As Frank stated, , TGraph provides a weslth of info re trainer in
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This board has been the subject of many posts over many years regarding drug use in this sport and those who repeatedly get away with it. Many of the posters on this subject have acknowledged the reduction or elimination of their betting handle. As Philly Wheels post suggests, today’s Navarro “ interview†was a shameful example of whitewashing by NYRA of this subject. Ms.Gaudet will never b
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Richie- the sole legal issue in the entire universe I am not capable of responding to in any meaningful way is how, why etc. this goes on. Let me add to this tale. Several weeks ago I had a telephone conversation with a huuuge name in the industry known to virtually everyone on this Board. In the course of the conversation I complimented this person for having taken an aggressive stance in the pu
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I asked that question some years ago to two NYRA based trainers, one of whom is in the Hall of Fame- in both cases they confided that they were concerned about retribution from NYRA in the form of lost stalls if they publicized their concern and upset about drug use.
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Putting sour grapes, name calling and sore loser issues aside, it is not unfair for a gambler to ask if there is sometimes a tilted playing field. It isn't just that Baffert won ( and won and won and won)it is the numbers his horses ran. The " improvement" was caused by what- he feeds his horses better? he breezes them faster or longer or harder? Some of these numbers are out of t
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BH- I have no expertise in this area and an agnostic about Pletcher. Every article I googled explained how draw rein forces a horses head into a different position and stressed it's use was to be limited for a short period. The writer of the comment appeared to be quite knowledgeable ( and perhaps a sore loser). I just find it remarkable that not one of the talking heads, on TV or in print
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I just read a comment posted in DRF to Watchmakers post Preakness column regarding Pletchers ( over) use of draw reins. I confess, before the Derby I had no freaking idea what a draw rein was. The writer basically accused Pletcher of incompetence. ( I am not a Pletcher hater or lover). So, I googled draw reins. Apparently, they are only to be used for short periods of time for difficult to contro
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Several responses to this group of posts: re TVG pushing the horse- putting aside the complaints about the hosts, TVG was huckstering that they would give new accounts 10-1 on AD ( up to a modest limit). Basically, it was no different than offering a $100. sign up bonus- and if you own Betfair stock even better- since they didn't have to pay off to all those new accounts. Forgive my skeptic
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I have always enjoyed this Board and many of the comments have added to a lifetime of handicapping education but I confess not quite understanding the angst over the numbers for the Derby or why some ( Hi Frank) are already trying to decide who to bet behind AD in the Preakness. I was dead wrong about AD going into saturday but why in the world would I give too much weight to the race. The condit
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Given the apparent view that the Derby will have a fast pace with much of it drawn inside, am interested in the Board's view of 1. who has the lead going into and coming out of first turn and 2. is lead uncontested,i.e. more than a length.
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On another post Sekrah made a great point if track comes up sloppy. Tapwrit mud breeding is incredible, top and bottom and going back 5 generations. I won't begin to discuss percentage probabilities (not competent) but with a back 1 1/2 there are worse ways to fill an exotic ticket ( or a win bet) at 40-1 if track comes up soupy.
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Maybe- but this team has no Dale Rolfes on it.
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It is reasonable to expect a 7:55 p.m. post Saturday by Frank D. assuring us that the look in their eyes means victory At Home in game 6.
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Jim-let me ask you a question about your 18-10-14 -7 pattern, particularly as a developmental pattern. Let's assume the first out ( the 18) was a no try ( see D.Wayne Lucas).The 10 was an effort. The horse reacts to the effort by running a 14. The 14 is still faster than than the 18. The horse now runs a big new top. Assuming spacing ok - in a developing horse in the hands of a competent tra
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With 20 days to go and with the help of the regulars on the Board, having pared my likely Derby bet down to 13 horses (with a pick four bet ending with the Derby whittled down to $8,321,00)the least I could do is offer an interesting history lesson. First, why is it called the Kentucky Derby? As many of you know, it was our version of the Epsom Derby (pronounced Darby for reasons unclear to me),
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FWIW-PJ one of 5 dual qualifiers ( Mc Craven and Gormely among others). I realize the dual qualifier is no longer as fashionable but it does suggest 1 1/4 not out of reach.
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Joe- am curious why you state PJ was " cranked up " for the BlueGrass. It was his second start of year, lost ground on both turns and clearly hung in stretch. Given the connections- the owners are breeders- I would think third off- the Derby- would be fully cranked time, particularly in Chad Browns hands. As you state, he had a lovely sheet and it is possible this backward move - if not
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Yesterday's TVG coverage did the impossible- it made me feel sorry for the TVG crew trying to explain why nearly every GP stake interfered with coverage of either an FG stake race or its sister track SA. It got so bad,that when the first race at SA went off at its usual 12:30 post and went up against a mid card GP race, Paul La Duca could be heard muttering in frustration. The capper was, of
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