Oaklawn

[Fairmount1]

Oaklawn\'s field size for Friday\'s 9 race card before scratches: 11.00.

Saturday\'s 9 race card: 11.77.

Many might be races that are unbettable as miff described about cheap Gulf races but mighty impressive beginning to the meet for the racing secretary. Not sure I\'ll love the new announcer saying the horses are \"in lockstep\" at Oaklawn but hopefully he throws in a \"short stretch\" reference like Terry Wallace.

Do we know for certain they are still restricting access to the computer bettors?

Miff, do you like Stronach\'s Mega Race idea?  Thinking he stole your idea... http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/97072/stronach-race-plan-targets-business-model

I am headed to Hot Springs for Friday and Saturday racing.  If anyone else will be there and wants to have a beer, send me a private message and I\'ll try to meet up with you.

[Boscar Obarra]

I should look at Oaklawn, if only to see if the betting  patterns there are any different, with the supposed \'ban\' of betting bots.

 My guess would be , no.

[shanahan]

Hell, FMount - the wife will be there Opening Day, but then she\'s meeting me at GP Saturday AM.  You going for the SouthWest or Rebel?

[Fairmount1]

A few months ago, I was trying to decide between Gulfstream and Oaklawn for this weekend and went with Hot Springs.  I\'ve been to Gulf twice in the past on MLK weekend.  

The Rebel is possible.  Some friends of mine usually go to Bluegrass weekend and that isn\'t happening this year so we are looking for another destination in March.  I will let you know.

Best of luck at Sunshine Millions!

[Rick B.]

Just my .02 on the usual suspects (trainers) at Oaklawn:

Broberg: new & improved with C-Nak? Was already winning everything in sight late last year (at other tracks).

Mason: Chicago trainer did surprisingly well here last year. Uses J. Felix and now Q. Hamilton is listed on a few.

Villafranco: uses RA Vazquez but of greater importance is that this trainer is almost a lock when running one for prime owner Danny Caldwell.

Brueggemann: now the worst kept secret in the Midwest, don\'t overlook his firsters nor his first off the claim -- the crappier they look on paper, the better the bet. Uses anybody with a jock\'s license. Stunk it up here last year, expect much better.

Good Luck!

P.S. Have a look at the Divito shipper in Race 9 today, #8 It\'s a Great Life. Fits here, ran same winning race 3 in a row at Hawthorne, C-Nak aboard...lots to like. Divito doesn\'t send them out for air.

[shanahan]

Rick, good advice to all, thanks.

One thing I might add - horses that have run recently either at FG or RP should be given preference.

[Fairmount1]

I was already keen on IM\'s Marquee Miss today.  When asked about the chances of this one during training this am, the trainer indicated the field isn\'t very strong, there is lots of speed in there for her, and (MY FAVORITE LINE OUT OF A TRAINER\'S MOUTH) she really loves the surface.  I will use this one with Durango in P3 and P4 and bet her to win at 5 to 1 or better.  

Said her claimer in the 2nd was in a tough race and I didn\'t ask about her starter in the 3rd.

Good luck.

[milwmike]

Very nice call.

[Rick B.]

Fairmount1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I was already keen on IM\'s Marquee Miss today.
> When asked about the chances of this one during
> training this am, the trainer indicated the field
> isn\'t very strong, there is lots of speed in there
> for her, and (MY FAVORITE LINE OUT OF A TRAINER\'S
> MOUTH) she really loves the surface.  I will use
> this one with Durango in P3 and P4 and bet her to
> win at 5 to 1 or better.  


WOW!!

Marquee Miss wires the field at 17-1!

GREAT call, and thanks!! Hope your pockets are stuffed.

[shanahan]

Indeed, nice call.  I was so far in the hole by that time it was over for me.

Per my note of favoring horses of recency...not so much.

[Fairmount1]

Successful weekend!!  Singled her in both late p3\'s instead of a pick 4.  I did hit both P3\'s (Races 6 through 8 and Races 7 through 9) and was very, very content with those payoffs.  

Interesting tidbit from Oaklawn Seating:  I told the ticket sales to give me any seat for both Friday and Saturday when I arrived.  I didn\'t care where as long as I had a seat bc while I wander everywhere all day at live racing (paddock, through the grandstand, outside to watch live), I do like to have a place to sit from time to time.  Saturday\'s seat was in section......TG.  I didn\'t really think about it until I sat down, looked up at the sign above the section and thought now that is odd.  

Hit another P3 early on Saturday that put me ahead for the day and just played around for fun with a few small (losing) bets and socialized the rest of the day with locals I met in the TG section.  After live racing, I went downstairs to watch the Lecomte.  Lukas and his wife walked up right beside me to watch his entry for Zayat at about 10 mtp on a big screen.  I asked about his health (he said he was doing well) and asked his greatest achievement with a horse on the track (He said Cat Thief\'s Classic).  He was affable and friendly and I was impressed. I told him pre-race that his horse already outran my wager as Dolphus scratched near the gate.

The only downside of live racing is everything you miss at all the other tracks if you truly concentrate on the live track you are watching.  Lots of results and replays I have to catch up on from this weekend. But getting back to live racing at a fresh, unique venue gets that \"Thrill\" back as Rick B. recently mentioned was missing a bit.  The board, esp Frank D posts with a posted play, gets that going also to compare notes or compete with when I put in my play (although I didn\'t play FG Sat save my Dolphus refund).

[Fairmount1]

Interesting start by the trainers (suspects) mentioned by Rick B. before Oaklawn began.  There is still plenty of time for this to change but the meet has not been kind to some of these so far.  

___________________________

Broberg: 6-0-0-0

Mason: 12-2-1-0

Villafranco: 17-1-3-2 (many favored)

Brueggemann:  No starters I believe

I\'ll add a one other interesting one:

Richard:  13-1-2-0

Morse and Moquett off to fast starts.  I\'m enjoying how the meet is playing so far with respect to the trainers\' records.  Yesterday\'s early races (first 4) definitely favored outside closers and they needed the middle of the track to win.  Might be worth noting the rail runners with speed for future reference on a fair or speed favoring track from those races.  The track was listed as wet fast (sealed) for first 6 races as it was presumably drying out.  Good luck.