Black Magic

[gillb]

Does any one have Black Magic for sale?
Thanks

[Moto Pete]

Normally I would say just pay the freight but I've watched Mike's video's and researched the product to some extent and it seems to be way overpriced. It's certainly not for your average handicapper. Black Magic, IMO, is for the serious professional player. I'd like to give it a whirl but not at what he's asking.

[Clocker]

Normally I would say just pay the freight but I've watched Mike's video's and researched the product to some extent and it seems to be way overpriced. It's certainly not for your average handicapper. Black Magic, IMO, is for the serious professional player. I'd like to give it a whirl but not at what he's asking.

Is Black Magic that much different than the basic Sartin Methodology? Mike was part of the Sartin group, and his book Handicapping Magic is a paper and pencil system based on some of the Sartin principles.

If Black Magic is essentially Sartin, there are a lot cheaper ways to get into it.

[Moto Pete]

I don't know that much about the program. It seems Mike has added some bells and whistles to the basic methodology. We need some users to chime in here.

[PICSIX]

This may help...

http://posttimedaily.com/10821/

[beefas]

Thks pic six!.. :cool:

[BettinBilly]

Thanks for that link. Interesting. I agree with some of his assumptions, but not with all of his methodology. His pick for the Derby sure was well out of the money.

[Appy]

Thanks for that link. Interesting. I agree with some of his assumptions, but not with all of his methodology. His pick for the Derby sure was well out of the money.

Chrome won and was top line in BM according to the video he sent out pre-race.

If you pick one race to decide if a software product is good or not they will all be failures.

To the person interested in buying BM used, I would recommend not attempting it as the program will not work without a usb key which is non-transferable without purchasing a license of your own. I hear that can be very costly.

[BettinBilly]

Chrome won and was top line in BM according to the video he sent out pre-race.

If you pick one race to decide if a software product is good or not they will all be failures.

Did you watch the referenced video on this thread? I am not referencing the efficiency of the software pick - as most would obviously put Chrome at the top or near the top of a pick for the Derby. In the referenced Video, Micheal said he bet Gen A Rod in the Derby, whom finished 11th. I'd say that was well out of the money, wouldn't you?

[Speed Figure]

Did you watch the referenced video on this thread? I am not referencing the efficiency of the software pick - as most would obviously put Chrome at the top or near the top of a pick for the Derby. In the referenced Video, Micheal said he bet Gen A Rod in the Derby, whom finished 11th. I'd say that was well out of the money, wouldn't you?Sure it was, but that was a value play. When your betting value horses that will happen. I'm sure that was nothing more than a recreational bet anyway.

[dannyhill]

Did you watch the referenced video on this thread? I am not referencing the efficiency of the software pick - as most would obviously put Chrome at the top or near the top of a pick for the Derby. In the referenced Video, Micheal said he bet Gen A Rod in the Derby, whom finished 11th. I'd say that was well out of the money, wouldn't you?
General had a horrible trip in the Derby. Not fair to judge him based on the 11th place finish. IMO

[BettinBilly]

Agreed.

Same with Wicked. That horse (whom I had my straight up bet on) ran like a champ but the best he could do is come in 4th. Guys, we all know horses can get a good or bad trip. That's not new to the sport. I was simply making an OBSERVATION of Michael's pick. We all try and find value.

[acorn54]

here's my two cents on blam.
i was the owner of blam for about a month and then sold it, not because it was an inferior software product but because i have a good "set-up" without it, and was just curious to see what it could do for my game. i agree with the poster that said it is way overpriced, if money is a concern for you, i don't know.
it features a pretty good odds line imo, however my one month trial suggested just sticking to longshot overlays according to the program would give you some very long string of losers and would make betting any significant money on each wager a high risk of ruin, unless you have a bankroll in the thousand of dollars.
also in that one month trial period i did a workout of the "high pressured races", that the program recognizes and bet the closer that the program suggested in those type of races. i was unimpressed. those two features of blam, the odds line generated by the program, and the high pressure races that the program recognizes were the two most interesting and enticing reasons i purchased the program.
of course a one month trial period is a grain of sand in time, but like i said, weighing pros and cons FOR ME, i'll stick with my present set up.
hope this helps.

[raybo]

I have watched many of his recent "Rants" and the software is top notch, but then several others are too. IMO, the price is way out there, but then lots of other software is too, it's the nature of our world, those who can afford much more will buy it simply because they can, and it has some really nice bells and whistles.

Regarding Michael's personal picks, if you have seen enough of his videos you will see that the man accurately weighs the value betting opportunities in races. He demands high value before betting, not just decent value. He looks at many, many races per day and picks and chooses his premium wagering situations wisely, IMO. In most of the big races he only places "recreational" bets, ie: low dollar bets.

As he says: "Let the bet make you".

[Vinnie]

One thing has always stuck with me from Mr. Pizzola. I believe that it goes something like this.

Some will (run like you project and expect)
Some won't (run as you have predicted basically)
So What?
NEXT!!! (On to the next race). I always loved that. I believe that it was Mr. Pizzola who is credited with saying such a thing. :)

[raybo]

One thing has always stuck with me from Mr. Pizzola. I believe that it goes something like this.

Some will (run like you project and expect)
Some won't (run as you have predicted basically)
So What?
NEXT!!! (On to the next race). I always loved that. I believe that it was Mr. Pizzola who is credited with saying such a thing. :)

That sounds like Michael for sure. If you lose, so what, it's just one of many losses you will incur, move on, and don't let it affect future betting decisions. He is a self espoused "investor" rather than a "gambler", and his primary focus is on the long term, not individual race outcomes. He's about as cool minded and emotionally detached as one can get, IMO. I thought I was non-emotional, regarding racing, but I'll take 2nd chair to him.

[Speed Figure]

Michael, is the only software seller than I see who constantly puts out these video's for the big races. I don't see any other software vendor doing what he does!! I really don't care if his triple crown picks win or not, I like the fact that he has the BALLS to make these video's and give his opinion for all to see!

[Vinnie]

Thanks Raybo. You know, most of the time, I am pretty decent at staying emotionally detached. But, I do need work in this department time and again to be quite honest.

[raybo]

Michael, is the only software seller than I see who constantly puts out these video's for the big races. I don't see any other software vendor doing what he does!! I really don't care if his triple crown picks win or not, I like the fact that he has the BALLS to make these video's and give his opinion for all to see!

I totally agree! He tells you what he thinks, win or lose. But usually, when he loses one of those bigger races, it's to a low priced horse that he didn't consider a "value bet". He'll dang sure tell you the race isn't worth betting too, at least not for a premium bet size anyway. I have a lot of respect for him, but wouldn't even think of plunking down that much money for software and files - LOL. But, that's just me, if I can't do it myself I'll just find something else to do.

[ldiatone]

Michael, is the only software seller than I see who constantly puts out these video's for the big races. I don't see any other software vendor doing what he does!! I really don't care if his triple crown picks win or not, I like the fact that he has the BALLS to make these video's and give his opinion for all to see!
another soft ware provider does also but not on youtube. just on a blog w/pay or free

[Speed Figure]

another soft ware provider does also but not on youtube. just on a blog w/pay or free
On a blog with pay or free? What?

[traynor]

One thing has always stuck with me from Mr. Pizzola. I believe that it goes something like this.

Some will (run like you project and expect)
Some won't (run as you have predicted basically)
So What?
NEXT!!! (On to the next race). I always loved that. I believe that it was Mr. Pizzola who is credited with saying such a thing. :)

One of Michael's favorite bits of advice was, "turn the page." I think "next" came from Jacque Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.

[ldiatone]

On a blog with pay or free? What?
you can pay for selections ; or view the free selections each day on the blog.
i do think the pay selections are different then the blog.

[raybo]

For those who have not received the latest from Michael, here are his thoughts on the TC and on CC:

From the Desk Of Michael Pizzolla

May 23, 2014 11:37 PM


Dear ValueCapper and Friend,

The Belmont is two weeks away, and of course, there's a big buzz about a potential Triple Crown champion.

For all my clinical talk about value, about ValueCapping, about finding the best value bets, there's still a racing fan in me.

Even though many big races present no good betting opportunities, that doesn't mean that I don't love the big races and the great horses.

I've been to the last three Triple Crown winners' Belmonts in person-Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977, and Affirmed in 1978.

Secretariat's Belmont was the single greatest sporting event I've ever experienced in my life.

As a pace handicapper, when I saw the time of 1:09 4/5 posted for 6 furlongs, I thought to myself that Ron Turcotte had blown the Triple Crown, that no colt could possible finish, much less win, at a mile and a half after that pace.

As Secretariat pulled away, the crowd was going crazy and I found myself not able to make a sound. I kept waiting for him to start 'swimming'-moving his legs up and down and coming back to the field. Instead, he pulled away. It was stunning. I still don't have the words to describe it.

California Chrome is no Secretariat. Still, it would be great for the sport to have a Triple Crown winner.

I'm on the road, in the deep South, and was actually asked by a couple of grandmothers from Alabama if Chrome had a chance at the Triple Crown.

Of course he does, and I told them as much.

He's not in the same class as Slew or Affirmed.

And no colt may ever be worthy of being mentioned in the same sentence as Secretariat.

Still, part of me wants him to win for the good of our game.

As of today, I don't know if I'll head back to New York for the race.

I was there for Smarty Jones's, Real Quiet's, War Emblem's, Funny Cide's, and Big Brown's losses in the Belmont when they had a chance at the Crown.

The three others that stick out in my mind were ten years apart.

I was there for Spectacular Bid's loss in 1979. It was a shock. I saw Coastal make this monster move up the rail to run down Bid. That would have been three Triple Crowns in a row!

Fast forward ten years. 1989 was Sunday Silence's chance. I watched Easy Goer cruise by him to win easily. I had a soft spot in my heart for Easy Goer, as he was a beautiful colt, and a son of Alydar, who I thought was a better colt than Affirmed.

Fast forward ten more years. 1999. This one was the most disappointing.

I was literally laughed at by some racing heavyweights on a radio show when I picked Charismatic to win the Derby that year, and when he paid $64 and change to win, I cashed one of the best bets I'd ever made.

It was heartbreaking to see him lose the Belmont. I knew something was wrong mid stretch. and watching Chris Antley drop to the ground to protect his leg after the finish line was so poignant.

I'm not superstitious, but there's part of me that knows that I've gone 8 times now since Affirmed and have seen 8 potential Crown winners lose.

Chrome is not a great colt. But at this point in our game, in thoroughbred racing, he's got a great chance to spark excitement in our game, which is sorely needed.

He'll be wearing his nasal strip, and I hope he runs his race.

I'll let you know if I'll go, and no matter what, I'll give you my analysis of the race when we get the final entries in a couple of weeks.

Until then, I hope this finds you well, and please, let the bet make you.

All the best,

Michael