Unlocking Winners

Handicapping strategies and picks for top Thoroughbred races

Brisnet.com's Ultimate Case for Mucho Macho Man & Lea

Pace handicapping is actually a two-step process. The question is not "How fast will they go," but (in the case of front runners), "How fast can this horse go and still win?" "A lot of pace in the race" doesn't set the race up for a closer if three front runners are gassed after a :22 first quarter and :45 half but a fourth horse is able to run those fractions and still come home in :24 for 1:09 for... Read More

Brisnet.com's Ultimate Case for Orb To Win the Travers Stakes

The Travers Stakes is one of those races where there is an onus to have A PICK. When someone asks you, "Who is going to win the Grade 1, $1-million Travers Stakes on Saturday at historic Saratoga Race Course?" The convention is that you have a one-horse answer. I.e. hedging for value or pace or other bet types (e.g. "I'm playing an exacta with...") is not allowed. It's also frowned upon to say, "Decide... Read More

TimeformUS Weekend Plays: Saratoga and Del Mar Graded Stakes Races

The Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Del Mar, Polytrack, Three-and-Up, One Mile and One Quarter Local Post Time - 5:10pm PT Sunday Get Pacific Classic Day PPs at TimeformUS The Pacific Classic has 13 entrants this year and no shortage of long resumes and good recent form. Richard's Kid has already won this race twice and he signalled that he's back in form by winning the Grade 3 Cougar II over this... Read More

TimeformUS Weekend Plays: Sunday Stakes Previews at Saratoga and Del Mar

The Grade 2 Woodford Reserve Lake Placid Stakes, Saratoga, Inner Turf, Three-Year Old Fillies, One Mile and One Eighth Caroline Thomas (12-1) is a deep closer who has been subjected to one extremely slow pace after another. (Note that fractions rated to be particularly slow are shown in blue.) She also had some trouble at the start in her last which is not noted in the shorter chart comments you see... Read More

TimeformUS Weekend Plays: Saratoga and Del Mar Graded Stakes Races

Sunday, Saratoga, Race 10, 5:45 PM EDT The Grade 2 Saratoga Special, Six and a Half Furlongs, Two-Year Olds And Up, Main Track Foal crop sizes have gotten smaller since the mid 1980s, and as a consequence, trainers have become much more patient in their handling of juveniles. When City Zip won the 2000 edition of the Saratoga Special, he did it while making the seventh start of his career. Fast-forward... Read More

TimeformUS Weekend Plays: Saratoga and Del Mar Graded Stakes Races

Sunday Saratoga, Race 9, 5:12 pm ET The Grade 1 Vandebilt, 3-and-up, 6 fulongs, Dirt Betting strategy: Straight exacta: Delaunay over Justin Phillip A field of five is assembled for the Vanderbilt. Delaunay and Gentlemen's Bet both exit the Iowa Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows, while Bahamian Squall and Justin Phillip exit the Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder, and the indefatigable Caixa Eletronica... Read More

The Evolution of 'Unlocking Winners'

We are introducing new content to the "Unlocking Winners" blog from handicappers with TimeformUS, a new digital past performance service that launched July 17 . TimeformUS will be offering insight to select weekend stakes and provide updates on the blog as track conditions and/or horses entered change, so check in regularly throughout the weekend for updates. And as always, please add your comments... Read More

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