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.