Questions, Past Performance Requests

Let's get to some of your questions and comments.

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Dan, a question for You. i noticed Dave Litfin's Video "plays of the Day" from Saratoga are available on You-Tube, but your Weekend Reviews with Mike Beers & The King, Harvey Pack, are not. Reasoning why? If they are on You-Tube, i can easily "share" them with various social media nationally, where if i link your segments from DRF site, all the Header reads is "Log In To DRF.com", and folks browsing sites can't see You, Mike, & Harvey (which is the selling point!). Could you get DRF to post your segments on YT? Thanks, Bob

Hi Bob,

Thanks for watching. The segment sometimes goes over ten minutes and, from what I understand, that's the time limit that we have for putting up youtube videos. We'll try to limit the video to ten minutes of content, but I can't make any promises (I want Harvey to talk as much as possible!). He really is the most entertaining personality in racing and I greatly enjoy doing those segments with him.  Hopefully, the viewers enjoy the segments as much as we enjoy producing them.

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Dan,
I'm shipping back up to Binghamton in a week and had the neat idea to decorate my room with PP's of some of my favorite racehorses. If it's too many, feel free to omit some of them.
Funny Cide
Ghostzapper
Smarty Jones
Ready's Image
Curlin
Lava Man
Wasted Tears
Commentator
Sunriver
Rachel Alexandra
Presious Passion
Straight Story
Big Brown
East coast bias much?
TheVanGogh

The past performances are available on the bottom of this blog post.

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PGM, Steve Taylor, chicago gerry and others have done a wonderful job in organizing the FormBlog convention at Arlington Park on September 11 and 12. I'm really looking forward to meeting anyone that makes the trip. For more information, head on over to

http://ironmaidensthoroughbreds.com/TC2010.html

Questions? Want to Reserve? E-mail

formblogconvention@gmail.com

There will be a handicapping contest at Arlington on Saturday and the FormBloggers are encouraged to participate. For more information on the contest, head over to this webpage:

http://arlingtonpark.com/calendar/arlington-handicapping-challenge-15

Saturday's Arlington card will feature the Arlington-Washington Futurity and the Arlington-Washington Lassie and the track will host their "Celtic Celebration" event on Sunday.

Should be great fun.

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Dan,
Hope you can help me with a question. About two years ago I saw in Del Mar a colt named Majormotionpicture who looked like he was going to be a superstar. I have not heard anything about him since. Any news?
Tx
Ivan

After winning his career debut, Majormotionpicture reportedly had all sorts of physical problems towards the end of 2008. His trainer, Mike Machowsky, noted that he suffered from a right front foot abscess and was "jarred up behind." He returned to the races on July 25, 2009, but could only finish fourth in an entry-level allowance at Del Mar. After a few more works that summer, he was laid up again.  He shows a workout on March 21, 2010 followed by nothing. Haven't heard anything recently so I'll have to assume he's out of training again.

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Hi Dan,
Can you post the pps to the 2003 Breeders cup classic? Blame and Quality Road remind me of Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia d'Oro. I want to see if there is any merit, and I was also curious to see who else they were up against as hopefully we will see Zenyatta and Rachel make it there in good condition
Alejo

The past performances for the 2003 BC Classic are available at the bottom of this blog post.

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WAS THINKING A BIT ABOUT THE LAST THURSDAY'S HG EXERCISE.
MY RECOLLECTION IS THE WINNER, HERITAGE HALL, WON THE STATER ALLOWANCE AFTER STARTING FOR AND WINNING A $10,000 CLAIMING RACE.

I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION AT HAND, BUT MY RECOLLECTION IS THIS RUNNER WAS A COLT AND HAD BEEN PURCHASED FOR $800,000.
IN YOUR OPINION:
HOW DOES A RUNNER LIKE THIS GET ENTERED IN A $10,000 CLAIMER IN THE FIRST PLACE?
HOW DOES A RUNNER LIKE THIS WITH AN $800,000 PRICE TAG, NOT GET CLAIMED OUT OF A RACE WHICH IT WON, AND WENT ON TO WIN ITS NEXT RACE, A STARTER ALWANCE?
WHY WOULDN'T THE ORIIGINAL OWNERS, JUST KEEP THIS GUY (UNBRIDLED'S SONG) FOR STUD PURPOSES?
DAN,
ONE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT HERITAGE HALL.
LETS SAY FOR EXAMPLE HERITAGE HALL HAD BEEN CLAIMED FOR $10,000. WHO EATS THE $800,000 THAT WAS INVESTED. I MEAN, IS ANY PART OF THE INVESTMENT COVERED BY INSURANCE?
I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS END OF THIS TYPE OF THING, BUT I JUST DON'T GET IT.
chicago gerry

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Hi gerry,

1). The form from the debut was so poor that the connections probably didn't expect a claim (even for $10,000) as most potential buyers would see the price tag, the drop in class, and the layoff, and assume that the horse had physical problems. Also, it's quite possible that they didn't expect the horse to improve so drastically.

2) Owners are either looking to win races, hope their horses are claimed in order to recoup some of their original investment, or both. That's why high-priced auction horses are entered for a tag.

3) Perhaps the horse is finally physically sound and ready to run to his potential. Also, it was clever placement by the connections. They didn't put him in a tougher allowance race, but had him eligible to race in a starter allowance without the pressure of losing him via a claim.

4) The stud market is so competitive and the economy is so poor that a horse has to really distinguish himself with pedigree and/or performance before he can make a mark in the breeding shed.

5) I'm guessing the purchase price wasn't covered by insurance, but am not 100% sure.

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Dan, could you please post the pp's for the horse holditholditholdit. thanks
addc26

The past performances are available at the bottom of this blog post.

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Dan--So, is the new track record that Sydney's Candy set 1:39.52, or 1:39 2/5? The DRF chart of the race lists the track record in parentheses as the latter, so is the DRF still musing fifths of a second as the standard for record keeping? Thanks.
e_s

The track record is now 1:39.52 or 1:39 2/5. For the past performance data, it will be mentioned in fifths of a second, but for a horse to break Sidney's Candy's track record, he will have to top 1:39.52. I believe the previous track record was 1:39 3/5.

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Hi Dan - Love the new site. With all of the talk about horses that aren't getting HOF nods, it brought back some memories of great turf horses of the 90's. Is there any chance of getting the PP's for Lure, With Approval and Sky Classic?
Lure92

The past performances are available on the bottom of this blog post.

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Congrats to Steve Taylor for finishing first in out last HandiGamling exercise (way to nip me out of a winning ticket with a flying horse in the final strides, Steve!). He selects Friday's fifth race at Arlington for this week's challenge.

The past performances are available on the bottom of this blog post.

Remember that you have a mythical $100 with which to wager on the race, and the entrant with the highest money total will receive a "Monthly Enhanced 60-Card Past Performance Plan." Anyone going over the $100 limit will be disqualified. Please post your plays and analysis to the blog. In the event of a tie, the earliest post gets first preference. One entry per person please. I reserve the right to approve or deny any entries

I know that there is a time issue for some of you, but let's remember why we began the HandiGambling races in the first place. The goal was to share ideas on why we like these horses, and why we're betting them the way we are. I'm not asking for a novel, but if you could spare a sentence or two outlining your handicapping angles, and thought processes about wagering, it would be appreciated.

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Back next time with the top Beyers from last week as well as the HG analysis.

Best,

Dan