2018 Breeders’ Cup Bullet Points

By now most of us have at the least finished our preliminary work for the 2018 Breeders’ Cup. We know the post positions, fields, probable weather and the wagering menu. Before finalizing decisions, I am going to keep some bullet points in the forefront of my mind.

Here we go:

• The draw is important in some races. Pay attention to it and who it has helped and who it has hindered.
• Consider rider tendencies when you project how you think the pace will play out. Pace often makes the race. Some riders are more aggressive than others. Anticipating what they are likely to do can be an edge.
• You have waited a year to get to this dance and you’re in it. Nothing in the rear view matters this weekend. Go in strong and with conviction on your opinions. #NoFear
• The board is less important this weekend than on any given Wednesday at your local track. Everyone is here to win. Nobody is giving anyone room, a break, or giving a horse a race.
• Go after your best opinions regardless of price. This weekend you will see horses of high quality going off at high odds. Take advantage of that when you like one. It is not everyday you have 25-1 shots you feel have as good a chance as a 2-1 shot. It only takes one of those to make it count.
• Do what you are good at and most confident in. If you like multi race wagers stick to that. If you like exactas and triples stick there. If you are a win bettor than bet win. This is not the weekend to change up.
• Pick your spots and invest more in those wagers. There are a ton of wagers and if you chase them all equally you are not maximizing your best opinions. You have to do that. Maximize your return when you are right and you have a better chance of being right when your opinion is strong.
• Don’t be afraid to change an opinion based on how the track or course may be playing or on who is hot and who is not. The game is both streaky and trendy. Sharp players adjust and never lock and load until they are approaching the gate. I adjusted and caught Caledonia Road last year on a closers track. Pay attention al day both days.
• If you score early stick to the plan. This is a marathon and not a sprint.
• If something looks too good to be true believe it anyway just for this weekend. That’s what dreams and scores are made of.
• Don’t bet against yourself. Go after who you believe in. You can’t cover every horse in every race. If you liked that horse so much you would have used it.
• All the statistics thrown around mean absolutely nothing in any given race. Don’t be afraid of stats.
• What happened last year or in other year’s runnings will not affect any outcomes this year. Act accordingly.
• Trainers who are suspected of pushing the envelope and taking an edge or even unfair advantage likely can’t push that envelope this weekend. Use that to your advantage but don’t think it means they can’t win.
• Don’t get consumed by looking for value. Go after who you like and if you are right value has a way of working out. There is No value in a losing bet regardless of the odds. None.
• If you have a bad beat or break early act as if it didn’t happen. Champions do not deviate.
• Most important of all be right. Remember,  even if you follow all 16 of the prior bullet points, you are going to have to be right. Do your homework. Come prepared and don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. No matter how you get there or any way you slice it, you’re going to have to be right.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the 2018 Breeders’ Cup. It really looks like a most competitive year. Some great racing looks to be a sure bet.

All the best to all the horses and connections and players. Any questions feel free to reach out and ask. I’m always happy to talk horses and share experience.