She wrote a song for her daughter. What’s it called? Appropriately... “The Horses.”

Nice bit of levity after a surreal week where my car never left the garage and saving on gas is considered the one silver lining.

Just saw him in Detroit. Awesome show. Now have seen Springsteen in early 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s. He never disappoints. Talking Bruce and the Derby. Man, I love this site!

In with one. Also don\'t like the two entry rule but recognize it drives tour participation all year. (Took advantage of it last year, so can\'t complain too loudly.) Good luck to Team Thorograph. Make some noise.

Inside horse looks \"Valid\" with figures, ground save, and moisture in track. Advance wagering indicates twice morning line. I usually keep selections to myself so hope this one was worth opening my (keyboarded) mouth.

For NHC\'ers and other players Aqueduct has canceled today, Friday, Jan. 24 due to cold weather. The third mandatory race was Aqueduct\'s 7th. Not sure yet if there will be a replacement mandatory?

Best of luck to all competitors.

Sweet call and nice ground-saving trip.

Some tremendous scores posted with players taking full advantage of a cavalcade of big priced horses. I\'ve Struck a Nerve certainly did that at $272.

Below is a link to a spreadsheet of the final results. Congratulations to Team Shurman (Bill at the controls and Paul \'capping on the high seas) for getting TWO tickets into the money! It made for great fun and drama at our table. Congratulations to the other Thorograph users who lapped me on Day 3.

Three days of contest play and jet lag is potent. Next contest for me will definitely be off a decent-sized layoff. Thank you again to Alan and Jerry for the support and invaluable FedEx care packages.

Best.
 Jamie

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/60397558/FINAL%20HPWS%202013.xls

Didn\'t purchase the analysis but used Thorograph and those key Santa Anita races to requalify for NHC next January. (Finally my wife is becoming a believer.) Thank you!

Tried it on iPad and it looked great. Very quality app-like functions. Will put it to good use in 2013. Best,
 Jamie

Had to comment given my message board user name. Some very attractive races today to watch interspersed with Ryder Cup. That includes a JCGC with Ruler On Ice to finally come through and some Santa Anita plays:
Race 6 - why not Butterfly Soul
Race 7 - Carving in his first route
Race 9 - a Stormy Lucy and Nereid exacta

I just want to say thank you to Thorograph for providing sheets for the three days of the HPWS at the Orleans. Rick handed off the data that enabled me to grind into 12th place after two days. Data that few others had helped me to identify horses that figured at solid prices. Day three was barbelled with very short prices and a steady stream of longshots (\"cap\" horses in contest parlance.) As one continuing to play mid-priced horses I fell, no I plummeted, down the leader board. Passing on maiden breaker Unremitting in race 8 from the Fairgrounds and also on the gutty win by Here to Win in the Very One at Gulfstream (both TG analysis selections) haunted me the whole red-eye flight home.

Again, Thorograph made manageable handicapping 186 races from eight tracks over three days to make the 45 mythical $20 WP plays against 675 competitors. Oh to have a few of those plays back. Until the next big handicapping contest, the support is greatly appreciated!

As a reader of this board for years I remember when Thorograph users used to post picks BEFORE races were run. Going to try and get that started again today. Having studied since last week\'s pre-entries, here goes:


3rd Race Marathon
This race is between #1 Birdrun and #2 Baryshnikov who can both save ground at long distance and run the necessary 0-1. Small exacta box to start the day.
 
4th Race Juvenile Turf
Top pick is #7 Caspar Netscher. Doing exactas with #4 Farraaj, #15 Tequila Factor (saver win bet on this one) and #6 Coalport.
 
5th Sprint
Play against the favorite. Betting #6 Force Freeze. Pattern like Lute\'s first time winning the sprint at MTH. Boxing with #2 Giant Ryan and #5 Jackson Bend.
 
6th Race Turf Sprint
**I just love #13 Caracortado to mow 'em all down. Using with #10 Havelock and #8 Regally Ready.
 
7th Race Dirt Mile
Ok, I'm getting chalky in middle of day here. Top selection is #9 Trappe Shot.  Under is #3 Tapizar and #8 Caleb's Posse.
 
8th Race  B Cup Turf
Nice race to end a pick 3 sequence and start late 50 cent Pick 4. Going with a U.S. horse, #5 Teaks North at a big price. Exacta and triple with #1 St. Nicholas Abbey, and #8 Brilliant Speed.

9th Race Juvenile Colts
#5 Hansen is going to lead them a long way, but just get nabbed by #12 Fort Loudon as the crowd gasps. Creative Cause to be third.

10th Race Turf Mile
How to play Goldikova? Beat her with an improving 3 year old, #11 Strong Suit. Play with #1 Goldikova, #5 Gio Ponti and #12 Compliance Officer who\'s no fluke on that 5 race streak.

11th Race Classic
*I have been waiting for this opportunity. Hope I've built a bankroll  to bet #4 Ruler On Ice, a true "run a negative figure" 1 ¼ horse. Using over and under with #2 Flat Out, #7 Rattlesnake Bridge and #9 Stay Thirsty. I would like Uncle Mo and Havre De Grace to take tons 'o money and be out of the money.

Best of luck all.

I\'ve Stable Alerted (like Google a noun becomes a verb) these horses from the post Breeders\' Cup sheets as well. A number of horses came off similar situation in May and returned and won at healthy prices in the spring. On Turkey Day at Hollywood Riveting Reason had dead rail mark from B Cup undercard. Won and paid $2.60. As noted there\'s Girolamo in the Aqu Cigar Mile. Then there\'s War Whoop in Saturday\'s last at Churchill. He certainly won\'t be 1:5. Enjoy the holiday weekend racing.

I meant the last shot of the calendar year 2009. I\'m well aware of the \"Last Chance\" at Red Rocks. My father will be in the mix with you. I came up $1 short in that event last year. It\'s one of the few qualifiers featuring Wednesday racing from Turfway so best of luck to you, Rick, and others making the trip.

I have to add myself to the list of \"thankers.\" I used Santa Anita sheets for Saturday and Sunday at the Del Mar Surfside contest. Those sheets (which I would have gladly paid for) enabled me to grab the last qualifying slot in the final qualifier of the year. Sure made the red-eye flight home more palatable. I will do my best to do Thoro-Graph proud in the NHC in late January. Happy New Year to all.
 Jamie