tampa bay...

[bpiets]

a new contest at tampa bay downs begins on the 10 th of feb.:)...an survivor contest...

[Big Russ]

a new contest at tampa bay downs begins on the 10 th of feb.:)...an survivor contest...

2 challenging races on day 1.

[Red Knave]

So, after 2 days I'm still alive and my bankroll is a spectacular $10.50. I went the safe route on both days. A 1/2 fav on Saturday and a 5/2 2nd fav on Sunday that got squeezed at the start but still rallied for 3rd (those 8k nw2 claimers are tough!).
Anyway, I think I need to rethink my strategy. The top guy has $67.80 (getting both the high priced winners). I bought 4 lifelines just for that reason. I liked the place horse in the grass race on Sunday but couldn't pull the trigger at what looked like 15/1.
Amazingly, 200 pickers went out and another 75 or so have $0, I guess using up lifelines. So there are 700 left of about 900 after 2 days. I'm in the top 1/2 at about 250th.
I'll try to keep updating this thread as I go, fwiw. :pound:

[Immanuel Kant]

At some point you're going to have to get away from the chalk.........

There are no prizes for simply finishing (surviving).......

Go for the gusto Cap!

[Red Knave]

At some point you're going to have to get away from the chalk.........

There are no prizes for simply finishing (surviving).......

Right, I was trying to survive, not to thrive. More interesting picks next week.

[Big Russ]

I'm at 39.60 after 2 days. Managed 2 get 2 first time starters home. Looks like next to contest days are dirt races. Not exactly excited about either race tomorrow.

[Red Knave]

I'm at 39.60 after 2 days. Managed 2 get 2 first time starters home.
Well done. I have no expertise with FTSers.
Yeah, tomorrow could be chalky.

[Immanuel Kant]

I forgot to play on Sunday so I lost my lifeline (I did not buy any extras.....would only buy if at the 1st cut I was competitive),

For Valentine's Day I'm playing the 4th...

using #11 (also eligible) hoping to go w2w in a theft attempt......

#2 is my back-up..hoping he wakes up and remembers he used to be a race horse (Nov 25 at Calder dusts this field)

Good Luck!

[Red Knave]

For Valentine's Day I'm playing the 4th...

using #11 (also eligible) hoping to go w2w in a theft attempt......

#2 is my back-up..hoping he wakes up and remembers he used to be a race horse (Nov 25 at Calder dusts this field)

Good Luck!
I wish I'd read this sooner. Good pick. But then, those are your people. ;) I liked the 11 also.

I went with the 8 in the 6th race. Looked possible at the top of the lane but flattened out.

and as for this memorable quote Yeah, tomorrow could be chalky. I nailed it. $16.00 and $44.00, how much chalkier could it get? :p

[Big Russ]

I played the 6 in r6...chickensh*t play on my part. I'd like go say I know better than to play such low odds in a contest like this, but evidently I dont!

[Big Russ]

I forgot to play on Sunday so I lost my lifeline (I did not buy any extras.....would only buy if at the 1st cut I was competitive),

For Valentine's Day I'm playing the 4th...

using #11 (also eligible) hoping to go w2w in a theft attempt......

#2 is my back-up..hoping he wakes up and remembers he used to be a race horse (Nov 25 at Calder dusts this field)

Good Luck!

Nice call!

[Immanuel Kant]

Today's menu forces my hand a bit....

I can't play the maiden claiming race where 4/8 (pre-scratch) are FTSers and the other 4 lost their previous races by a combined total of 142 1/4 lengths!!!

So, as the Captain says, I'm with my people in race 5.....16,000 straight claimers

Here's the problem....it's only a 7 horse field.......looks to me like today is a day where contest organizers have decided they would like everyone to stick around in the contest.......

I acquiesce to their judgement and will not try to force my hand....so

7 panels........3rd race on Jan 24 the reference as three of the seven return from that contest to meet again.....

Don't think the 7/2 ML will hold on #6 Highland Park Hero but the #1 will be even money or less IMO so maybe 5/2 is realistic and I live to fight another day

gl

[Red Knave]

I'm playing the 5th as well and for the same reason. I settled on 2, Salsa Lane. I'm also a bit intrigued by 5, Devastating Move, 2nd off a layoff. The 1 deserves to be favorite but looks too good. :)

[Red Knave]

intrigued by 5, Devastating Move,
The 1 deserves to be favorite
My mentioning them is the kiss of death I guess. Both scratched. Hmmm, now the 6 is looking more likely.

[Big Russ]

I ended up playing the 8 in the first race. Didn't think I played the fav. At least it won. I'm in 38th place. Need some price horses soon!

[Red Knave]

I ended up playing the 8 in the first race. Didn't think I played the fav. At least it won. I'm in 38th place. Need some price horses soon!Any win is a good win.
Well I found a way to shoot myself in the foot again. I intended to switch to the 6 from the 2 in the 5th but set my timer to the wrong time and missed the race so I stayed on the 2. I watched the replay and was sort of surprised to see it on the lead. Ah well. Onward and upward.

[Red Knave]

Made an early pick of #1 Awesome Lily in the 1st.

[Big Russ]

Made an early pick of #1 Awesome Lily in the 1st.

Can't argue with you on that one. I think I'm going to pass that race and see what I can find in the 3rd race. I'd like to see the post parades but not easy at work. Best of luck!

[Big Russ]

3 and 5 scratched race 1. The 8 is scratched race 3.

[Red Knave]

I went with #7 in the 7th, Memory Bank today.

[Immanuel Kant]

I went with #7 in the 7th, Memory Bank today.

moi aussi

[Big Russ]

I played the 6 in race 7. Sitting in 18th place.

[Red Knave]

I played the 6 in race 7. Sitting in 18th place.
You are "en fuego" ! Nice 'cappin.

[Red Knave]

At the moment I'm on Odachi, #3 in the 4th today.

[Big Russ]

I ended up on the 8 in race 4. In 10th place going into Wednesday.

[Immanuel Kant]

I ended up on the 8 in race 4. In 10th place going into Wednesday.

On the 1st page...congrats!

I'm $33.00 behind you at $57.40 in 55th place

and playing without a net (didn't buy lifelines)

[Big Russ]

On the 1st page...congrats!

I'm $33.00 behind you at $57.40 in 55th place

and playing without a net (didn't buy lifelines)

That's pretty good. Keep it going!

[Red Knave]

On the 1st page...congrats!
I'm $33.00 behind you at $57.40 in 55th place
and playing without a net (didn't buy lifelines)
You know you've always been my hero but, I dunno, that Big Russ ...

;)


And, fwiw, I've moved up over 50 spots to 207th. Ha!

[Big Russ]

Back to the turf tomorrow.

[Red Knave]

I'll be away from the keyboard most of the day so I so I selected early. I don't like either race but I went with #7 Roll Channeled in the 5th.

[Red Knave]

Another X today and I had the feeling that horse would be first or last. Naturally it fooled me and finished midpack as 3rd or 4th choice. I looked so hard for a price I made up a story for it that I made myself believe.
Anyway, right now I'm on the #3 Dont Charge It in the 3rd tomorrow. That's what my software says. If I had followed the software today I would have been on the 13-1 place horse.

[Big Russ]

Another X today and I had the feeling that horse would be first or last. Naturally it fooled me and finished midpack as 3rd or 4th choice. I looked so hard for a price I made up a story for it that I made myself believe.
Anyway, right now I'm on the #3 Dont Charge It in the 3rd tomorrow. That's what my software says. If I had followed the software today I would have been on the 13-1 place horse.

I ended up on the big fave in the 2nd race. No access to post parades until Saturday due to work situation. Hindsight being what it is, the 1 in the first leg yesterday was the smart play. Trainer, 2nd start, msw to claimer. No clue what to play today.

[Immanuel Kant]

Good Luck to the two of you going forward!

I'm out!

[Red Knave]

Good Luck to the two of you going forward!
I'm out!
Bummer.

[Red Knave]

Another miss yesterday (although 4th). Today I really don't like the 2nd of the 2 races and the 1st just got more complicated with the scratches of my top 2 choices. I'm still undecided but I may take a swing with the 1.

[Red Knave]

I'm still undecided but I may take a swing with the 1.Well that was interesting, now the 1 is scratched.

[Red Knave]

I got the very best result possible today, #5 High Cotton in the 2nd contest race. I bet I jump to 180th! :ThmbUp:

:)

[Big Russ]

I got the very best result possible today, #5 High Cotton in the 2nd contest race. I bet I jump to 180th! :ThmbUp:

:)

Good job! I ran out.

[Red Knave]

Coming 4th with a 10-1 shot is bad enough but with the 6-5 favorite? Blah.

Looking for a price tomorrow.

[Red Knave]

I'm on #3 in the contest 2nd, Jonimarie. Is Gallardo due for another win?

[Red Knave]

I'm on #3 in the contest 2nd, Jonimarie. Is Gallardo due for another win?The simple answer is No.
My alternate pick yesterday and today both won. Hmmm.

[Red Knave]

Another swing and a miss Wed. The even money fav moved to 6-5 as the gates opened ... I knew I was in trouble.
That was my last lifeline too so I'm on my honor until Mar 9 (or sooner :pout: ) when 2 more lifelines can be purchased (if I'm still alive I'll have to think it over) so I'm basically swinging free until I get bumped. We'll see what happens.

[Red Knave]

Dodged another bullet with a solid 3rd at, I think, 5-1. $2.80, woo hoo!! Again, my alternate won (at $23).

Saturdays 2 races are 2 of the most difficult I can remember so far (like I have found any of them easy :faint: ). Keeping fingers crossed there will be some scratches to make one of them playable.

[Red Knave]

Well, another 3rd at 3-1 for a $2.40 payoff. Still alive and kickin'.

[Red Knave]

2 Mdn grass miles today and neither one is appetizing. I looked long and hard at the 2nd of the 2 (R7) but the likely fav is a difficult to control quitter that is easily fastest but ...
I went, instead, for a 'connections' play int the 1st contest race (R2). #3 Mandel with Centeno/Delacour, the only horse to work in 1:02 or faster. It didn't translate to a good race last time but dropping 2 classes and 2nd ML choice, I'm sucking along.

[Red Knave]

#3 Mandel with Centeno/Delacour
Yet another show horse. Nipped for place by a 67-1 shot. $3.60 is my biggest payoff this week! :pound:

[Red Knave]

Tomorrow we have 2 3yo races. A 6f NW Optional 25k and a Mdn 5.5f. I'm looking at the first one and it actually looks pretty interesting. I'm putting my contest life on the line with the 3rd ML choice, #7 Elvis Cole who may be the speed of the speed here. And there's lots of speed, according to BRIS. There are 5 E types, 2 E/Ps and 1 P, the ML favorite (pretty typical for this category). The best late, according to Timeform is #8, Lord Barna (ML fav), and I hope he finds himself too far back to finish and that no one softens up my choice so that he can hang on for a slice.
We'll see who's left after scratches.

[Red Knave]

Ignominiously out after Elvis ran like the "Mdn winner last out" that he was. The fav, #8, the only horse with any late ability, wins this as the favorite (and my alternate). I'm gone but best of luck to Big Russ, hoping he lasts to the finish.

[Big Russ]

Ignominiously out after Elvis ran like the "Mdn winner last out" that he was. The fav, #8, the only horse with any late ability, wins this as the favorite (and my alternate). I'm gone but best of luck to Big Russ, hoping he lasts to the finish.

Thanks. Looks like I'm in 29th. Need a couple of prices desperately.

[Big Russ]

I'm out.

[Red Knave]

I'm out.
Bummer. Good run though.
Down to 85 from over 900 with 8 (I think) more days to go and no more lifelines available.