If you're in the Run for the Roses contest - with a VIP trip to Derby 138 as the top prize - count yourself lucky if you didn't use Uncle Mo. While in the real world of Derby horseflesh, Uncle Mo still is the real deal, adding him to your Road to the Roses stable gives you a big doughnut for almost two-thirds of the contest run. Why? Because the Timely Writer isn't part of the prep schedule for the contest and coming out of Gulfstream, Uncle Mo won't run again until the Wood Memorial on April 9.
My stables are stinking up the joint, but my wife has a real good shot with her three stables that currently have 84 points (good for 210th place from about 15,000 entries), 50 points and 39 points. Among her horses running this weekend are: Brethren, Bench Points, Awesome Patriot and Jaycito.
I'm not a big Derby Futures guy. Maybe because each future bet I make seems to blow up shortly after the pool closes. For instance, I loved Rule last year, bet him in Pool 2 and he promptly went on the shelf for almost a year. This year I thought Clubhouse Ride was one of the bettor bombs, so the week after I bet him in Pool 1, he's down and out.
Right now Stay Thirsty and Elite Alex interest me, so there are two to avoid like the plague. Seriously, if you're going to play in the future pool demand odds double or triple of what you'd expect on Derby Day and don't make the wager until sometime Sunday when the real odds appear after the weekend's prep races.
TwinSpires.com started a new handicapping contest worth considering. On Thursday or Friday, you can purchase a $10 contest entry - up to three - to pick winners and get yourself entered into Saturday's $50 contest. Saturday afternoon winners earn their way into TwinSpires.com $1,000 buy in championship in November as well as some cold, hard cash. There's also end of the month contests, with the winner getting a trip to Vegas to play in the TwinSpires.com contest. For $10, I think it's worth a shot and check out the contest page here.
As far as weekend preps go:
- Tampa Bay Derby - Brethen has every right to repeat with Beamer providing the best chance at a price
- San Felipe - Have to root for my honey with Jaycito, Bench Points and Awesome Patriot. If Awewome Patriot finishes first, my wife's top-point stable will continue to roll.
I love Brethren, I think because of the competition he's been facing he's slightly under rated.
ReplyDeleteBench Points looks like a very nice colt, I love his style. Jaycito looks ready to produce a very stellar effort in the San Felipe but I hope Bench Points is able to make a good race of it.
My Road to the Roses stable is doing less-than exceptional to say the least! :)
Brian
Brian,
ReplyDeleteIf Jaycito and Awesome Patriot show up today, my wife's stable will be in for a big day. It's called Win Early.
I qualified for today's Twinspires tournament by coming in 11th in the Thursday tournament....should be a fun day of playing and watching.