HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Frank Evans, a professional handicapper and card player from Lake Hiawatha, N. J., outplayed, outsmarted, and outlasted a field of 125 players to take home first prize of $100,000 at the conclusion of the three-day Turf-Vivor handicapping contest at Gulfstream Park on Sunday. Evans's win qualified him for the seventh Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship next January in Las Vegas.
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park's $132,000 Turf-Vivor Handicapping Contest has been narrowed down from 125 entrants to 16 finalists after two-days of action in the three-day DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship qualifying event.
In Sunday's final round, players will face each other in head-to-head tournament-bracket-style competition with the top seed facing the 16th seed and so on until the field is paired down to the elite eight, the final four, the top two, and then to the one ultimate "Turf-Vivor." The winner will take home a grand prize of $100,000.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park's high-profile Turf-Vivor handicapping contest kicked off on Friday afternoon with a full field of 125 entrants from across the country in attendance. The three-day contest, which continues through Sunday, carries a total purse of $132,000 and offers a $100,000 first prize to the last player left standing at the end of Sunday's Gulfstream race card.
PHOENIX - Even if Southern California doesn't get another drop of rain between now and next Saturday's Santa Anita Handicap, the rain will have a huge effect on the race, and trainer Bobby Frankel told you why.
"The horses coming in from Florida can't lose," Frankel said in Thursday's Daily Racing Form, referring to Saint Liam, who is scheduled to ship in for the Big Cap. "They've got an edge. They've been able to train. Saint Liam is the best horse, and he's got a bigger edge on conditioning. I haven't been able to gallop my horses for six or seven days."
NEW YORK - In comparison to next week's huge Big Cap card at Santa Anita and the big Fountain of Youth program at Gulfstream Park, this will be a relatively quiet Saturday in terms of stakes action.
The highest-graded and richest stakes race Saturday is the Grade 2, $150,000 San Carlos Handicap at Santa Anita, which unfortunately lacks two big names that were originally considered for it, Pico Central and Cajun Beat. I'll pass that one and zero in on the following three big races:
Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup Handicap
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Many handicappers familiarize themselves with jockey and trainer standings. They know those who are winning and those who are not, although perhaps not the details of which races.
To look beyond the overall numbers, horseplayers can save old Daily Racing Forms and charts and/or access computer databases. Those who put in the effort only hope that such analysis will pay off down the road.
I certainly hope so - this week I spent the time researching three leading trainers at Gulfstream Park: Kiaran McLaughlin, Mark Hennig, and Todd Pletcher.
ARCADIA, Calif. - There is nothing like a fast, furious stretch kick to stir winter frenzy. The din began immediately after a sharp allowance win by Bandini, it continued after an explosive rally by Don't Get Mad, and grew louder following a promising comeback by Golden Shine.
PHILADELPHIA - It's that time again.
While everybody else is weighing the relative merits of Rockport Harbor, Declan's Moon, Afleet Alex, and the other top 3-year-olds, a dedicated observer of Triple Crown nominations considers all possibilities.
As a public service to Daily Racing Form readers, I have spent hours in search of the "others" stories, horses that could become the next War Emblem, Funny Cide, or Smarty Jones on the first Saturday in May.
After combing through the 358 early nominations, I have arrived at some conclusions.
NEW YORK - Madcap Escapade and Bear Fan were both strongly favored in two Grade 2 sprint stakes on Saturday, but after their performances, it is clear they are horses going in opposite directions. Madcap Escapade, miles the best in Gulfstream's Shirley Jones Handicap, is going straight to the top, while Bear Fan looks to be going south after staggering home eighth in Laurel's Barbara Fritchie Handicap.