TVG Letter

[billk5300s]

I haven\'t posted much lately but I heard an interesting topic on TVG today.  A player wrote in complaining about the performance of Looking at Lee in an OC40000.  What frosted the guy was that Asmussen commented in an interview after the race that it was a good work out for the horse.  The player felt that if you aren\'t going to try you shouldn\'t enter the horse.  The talking head on TVG basically told the guy that he should have known better than to play the horse in that condition.  We\'ve all been there and most of us would have tossed the horse but we learn that as we go.  The player thought that was Asmussen did ruins the integrity of the sport.  It\'s a slow day, any thoughts on this?

[Tavasco]

Integrity? That is indeed a rare and valuable commodity.

[TempletonPeck]

Difference, IMO is whether he was trying to win the race or not. If he was, then it\'s on you to suss out whether that is a likely outcome given horse/trainer previous tendencies, and whatever other info you can get.

But, if he is entering with the intention to lose, then it\'s a fraud.

[Strike]

No connections run their horse with the intention of losing. He was probably only __% cranked as it is a long season and also the trainer was possibly looking for a quotable excuse for losing. Having said that, it is a bit maddening to hear a trainer say \"he was only 80% trained up for the race\" after the race was run -- but, that is part of the puzzle looking at factors like -- success with layoff horses, quality of the workouts, etc.

[Strike]

Strike Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No connections run their horse with the intention
> of losing. He was probably only __% cranked as it
> is a long season and also the trainer was possibly
> looking for a quotable excuse for losing. Having
> said that, it is a bit maddening to hear a trainer
> say \"he was only 80% trained up for the race\"
> after the race was run -- but, that is part of the
> puzzle looking at factors like -- success with
> layoff horses, quality of the workouts, etc.

And of course the TVG handicappers are dead on the worst. How can they be around racing every week for years and be so bad? Simon Bray has occasional success probably based upon his training background. The others are just flat out terrible.

[Boscar Obarra]

> And of course the TVG handicappers are dead on the
> worst. How can they be around racing every week
> for years and be so bad? Simon Bray has occasional
> success probably based upon his training
> background. The others are just flat out terrible.


 Uh, maybe because they get paid the same no matter what?

[TempletonPeck]

Strike Wrote:
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> No connections run their horse with the intention
> of losing.

I didn\'t comment on the frequency of this, but if you think it\'s 0%, you\'re out of your mind. My favorite recent example is Masochistic being stiffed at SA before the big takedown on Derby day, which I\'ve cited here previously.

[Strike]

TempletonPeck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Strike Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No connections run their horse with the
> intention
> > of losing.
>
> I didn\'t comment on the frequency of this, but if
> you think it\'s 0%, you\'re out of your mind. My
> favorite recent example is Masochistic being
> stiffed at SA before the big takedown on Derby
> day, which I\'ve cited here previously.

OK -- name another.

Masochistic was tranquilized in the maiden race before the race on KY Derby day. Who does that -- and Avila was caught after the win. He went off as the favorite in the race so nobody was fooled (including me). If you are suggesting Assmussen is doing the same you are out of your mind -- not me.

[TempletonPeck]

Strike Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> OK -- name another.
>
> Masochistic was tranquilized in the maiden race
> before the race on KY Derby day. Who does that --
> and Avila was caught after the win. He went off as
> the favorite in the race so nobody was fooled
> (including me). If you are suggesting Assmussen is
> doing the same you are out of your mind -- not me.

\"It never happens! Except for the times that it happens. But that time it happened I knew about it so I don\'t care.\"

[firmturf]

I\'m not one to defend TVG, their staff picks or any public handicappers opinions but I must give credit where credit is due. TVG Saturday had Rich Perloff (sp?) hosting the portion of the show where this horse ran. He provided reason after reason why a horseplayer should NOT use this horse. All of his analysis was spot on.

[BitPlayer]

He goes again today in the 8th at Oaklawn.

[Tavasco]

6/5 @ first flash.

Not for me. $\'s bet on Lookin At Lee are $\'s not bet on Hollendorfer horse (Got Even) who figures to waste only a little ground if any?