geldedridgling

It's the computer players that drive handle. Joe Blow isn't responsibly for these increases. Tracks could split our CAW handle from all other handle and show where the real increases are coming from but that doesn't tell the story they would like to tell, or it at least highlights an issue they don't want highlighted.

Had I Want Revenge of Eskendereya remained healthy one if not both could have broken the Wood Memorial "curse". It's just a matter of time before the Wood produces another Derby winner, just like it was just a matter of time before a gelding won and a matter of time before the Apollo curse was broken.

Thanks. I think I originally saw it on Paulick Report but wondered if I missed it here.

Did I miss the story on NYRA amending the complaint against Bob Baffert? I'm not piling on Bob Baffert but it's strange for that story not to be mentioned...

So maybe it's not Pratt but Hot Rod Charlie?

50k is a PR stunt, when you consider the early and late pools routinely take in at least 500k. For example, even though the 3 turf races in the sequence were switched to dirt, the opening day late pick 5 pool took in 2 million dollars. Yesterday's late pick 5 pool took in 800k. 50k doesn't move the needle and doesn't incentivize the only cohort of bettor the track's really care about, the computer guys..

Bob helps himself and his owners by winning races where the points don't get assigned. Doing that effectively lowers the number of points needed to get into the Kentucky Derby, while still accumulating the unrestricted graded stakes earnings that serve as the tie break if horses have the same number of points. It helps (a tiny bit) push back the date when trainers have to decide if they want switch barns. Who knows if any of these horses will actually be sound in 2 months anyway.

Because there's no need to transfer barns to win a 10 point race. It won't put you in the Derby. Maybe in March or April make the switch, if your horse is still healthy and looking like a Derby horse.

Ed DeRosa- Flightline is the best horse since Frankel? Too often in today's world of 24 hour/"need to be first" media people like Ed feel the need to make outrageous, premature takes. In addition, the takes are often unprovable/counterfactual, so he can keep firing them off and he may technically not be wrong but he's not right either. Every day requires a new "hot take" so the previous one is forgotten, unless it proves him right, and then he'll gladly remind us. Ed did not create this problem but he's definitely not making the situation better. Flightline is a talented horse, but 1 grade 1 does not an all time great make..If he stays healthy, he appears to have a high ceiling, but let's save all the superlatives until we see just how high.

Oh you must be new! Arrogate was supposed to finish off the board in the 2016 Breeders Cup Classic per Derby Doc. That's when I lost respect for his handicapping ability and objectivity.