HRTV ON YOUR PC

May 2012 | Vol. 10 Issue 2
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Quarterly Information and Observations from Xpressbet
Ask Johnny D.
In this issue of pressway
Question:
Spring Classics Are in Bloom
Union Rags was my ‘lock’ to win the
Ask Johnny D - ’Rags a Derby ’Lock?’
Crown. But, since he finished third in the
Free Wagering Guides, Sweepstakes Info
and actually have been for quite a while.
Kentucky Derby and maybe the Triple
Florida Derby, what do I do now? I’m lost
–Amelia, Atchison, Kansas
Notes on a Program - Derby Deductions
And More...
Johnny Says...
Amelia, you are not flying solo this time.
THE NETWORK FOR HORSE SPORTS
Lots of folks thought Union Rags would
‘gallop’ in the Florida Derby and then in
Flowers, Spring Classics
Are in Bloom
Spring flowers already are in bloom across much of the nation. Blame or credit the premature
growth spurt on a mild winter season. Also in bloom are top 3-year-old racehorses with designs
on the Triple Crown—Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
the Kentucky version. In fact, the words
(do I dare even write them?) Triple Crown
winner were bandied about. Now, after
one loss, Union Rags might be a luke
warm Derby favorite.
That could be a good thing for true Union
Rags supporters. Instead of getting 8/5
or 2-1 on him Derby day, the son of
Dixie Union might be as much as 4-1,
It’s probably about time we stopped thinking about the possibility of one horse winning all three
depending on what else happens in a few
races. It’s been 34 years since Affirmed last turned the trick and that’s a long time between
remaining prep races. At this writing, it’s
drinks of water. Maybe unified indifference to the achievement will help one horse to finally get
difficult to imagine any horse wresting
the job done.
favoritism away from Union Rags, but
No matter. The Triple Crown’s going to be a great ride. Always is. And there’s no better time of
the year to be a horseplayer.
Kentucky Derby day is May 5, and the Kentucky Oaks is the previous afternoon. The Preakness
is two weeks later on May 19, preceded by the Black-Eyed Susan the day before. The Belmont
Stakes is Saturday, June 9. In addition to those dates, you ought to know that this time each
year live racing shifts to an assortment of new tracks. Belmont, Pimlico, Hollywood, Calder and
Monmouth are just a few venues hosting spring race meetings. Watch and wager on racing from
those tracks and from tracks worldwide with Xpressbet-- online, by phone and via mobile device!
there are some other interesting options
for players to consider.
As far as your personal allegiance to Union
Rags, I suggest you stick with him. His
performance in the Florida Derby was
compromised by a few factors: First, he
was intentionally boxed-in for much of
the race by El Padrino and jockey Javier
Castellano. It was smart race-riding by
Read more inside.
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Building #26
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Notes on a Program
Get FREE Triple Crown WAGERING GUIDES!
XpressBet’s fun and informative Wagering Guides have become a yearly
FREE XPRESSBET WAGERING GUIDES
TIME TO FILE DERBY
DEDUCTIONS
staple for thousands of account holders. Get your Kentucky Derby,
Preakness and Belmont Stakes editions FREE at XpressBet.com.
At this writing, with two major Kentucky
Derby prep races still looming on the
horizon, the 2012 Kentucky Derby picture
is about as confusing as the US tax code.
We must file a tax return and we’re
certain there’s going to be a Kentucky
Derby winner. That much is clear.
Complications arise, however, when we
consider deductions.
Access guides online, download or print them for easy reference on
race day. Each guide contains in-depth, expert analysis of each Triple
Crown race, including Stats & Trends, Main Contenders, Value Plays
and $100 Wagering Strategies from Bob Neumeier (NBC Sports), Jon
White and Jeff Siegel (HRTV), Dick Jerardi (Philadelphia Daily News),
Steve Byk (SiriusXM Radio) and more.
Additionally, each guide delivers fun and informative facts, figures
and historical tidbits to make you an instant expert.
Derby Wagering Guide
Available online April 27
Guide Bonus: Access daily, late-breaking, online guide updates and
revisions leading up to the main event.
XpressBet Wagering Guides provide everything you need to enjoy the
Triple Crown races and will help you cash a ticket or two!
(online daily updates May 1)
Preakness Wagering Guide
Available online May 11
(online daily updates May 15)
Belmont Wagering Guide
Available online June 1
(online daily updates June 5)
Ask Johnny D,
(Continued from front page)
Xpressbet Day at the Races
For example: How much of a deduction
do we allow for Gemologist racing wide
in the Wood? What about Alpha’s severe
check on the first turn in the same race?
Can we deduct the full amount for that
incident? After all, he lost to Gemologist
by merely a neck.
What about Union Rags’ performance in
the Florida Derby? Can we totally write
that one off? He was boxed in for much
of the race with jockey Julian Leparoux’s
feet planted firmly on the dashboard.
Only when the race was ‘over up front’
was Union Rags allowed to show his
best. Too little, too late.
Is a deduction permitted in the case of
Florida Derby winner Take Charge Indy?
He set an uncontested, soft early pace on
a racetrack that favored front-runners.
Runner-up Reveron benefitted too. His
performance has to be a total write off.
An unimpeded Union Rags would beat
Reveron every day of the week.
The Louisiana Derby also produced
write-offs, beginning with the winner
Hero of Order---who at 109.40-1 was
more like ‘Hero of Disorder.’ Runner-up
Mark Valeski deserves an exemption.
Apparently, he lost a shoe during prerace warm-ups and bruised a hoof.
If that’s not a write-off, I don’t know
what is. Ultimately, neither of those
runners may have enough graded-stakes
earnings to start in the Derby, but they’re
a great example of how muddled the
3-year-old picture is.
This season’s 3-year-old crop is a
talented group with no real standout.
No less than six runners have legitimate
shots at winning roses. Come Kentucky
Derby day, handicappers will examine
everything from past performances to
workouts to post positions to running
styles, in a desperate attempt to split
hairs. Toss in the above-mentioned
deductions and exemptions and this
Derby might best be handicapped using
an Ouija Board.
But, isn’t it always like this on the
first Saturday in May? Aren’t we often
bewitched, bothered and bewildered by
the 20-horse cavalry charge? I suppose
so. Usually, though, there’s a clear-cut
favorite to either love or hate. No such
line item on this year’s return. Merely
20 days out from the race it’s not clear
who the favorite might be and projections
suggest that there may be as many as six
runners below double-digit odds.
Xpressbet’s free Kentucky Derby
Wagering Guide, available online to all
account holders Friday, April 27, and
daily online, late-breaking updates
posted May 1, can help you to file your
Derby return accurately. Unfortunately,
we can’t guarantee that around 6 pm ET
on Saturday, May 5 you won’t be audited.
Xpressbet’s Day at the Races at
Castellano, who rode Union Rags in all
Gulfstream Park was a festive March
but one of his starts as a 2-year-old, in a
event that included account holders
game of ‘try to beat the favorite.’ Union
and their guests from around the
Rags and jockey Julien Leparoux had no
nation. Visiting the winner’s circle for a
place to run throughout much of the race,
special feature-race presentation were
trapped uncomfortably inside El Padrino
(left to right) Jana Davis, Ricky Dunn,
and behind other horses.
Paul Gundy, Javier Castellano, Susana
Escayola and Calvin Maki.
XpressLane
Use 'My Settings' for Personal Play
One of the best aspects of Xpressbet’s wagering interface is that it provides players
with an amazing array of personal options. After Log-In, visit My Settings to see
how you can alter the presentation of just about everything to fit your tastes.
Finally, on the turn for home, Leparoux
For example, did you know that you can have the program, video, wager pad, odds
was able to drop his mount to the inside,
board, results and more all on one screen? Go to My Settings and select Multiview
gain ground and then angle out for a
to choose which pieces of information you’d like to see simultaneously and in
last-ditch run at the leaders. As we know,
he had too much ground to make up and
Palone Wins 15,000 Races
he finished third behind Take Charge Indy
Dave Palone returns to The Meadows winner’s
and Reveron.
circle March 27 following his 15,000th career
what order. Test it. Try different screen configurations and combinations. Don’t
worry, you won’t break anything. When you’re finished, to return to the traditional
Program View page where you started… just select that option in My Settings.
score with a salute to Herve Filion, the only
You can take advantage of all sorts of personalized features with Xpressbet. Maybe
A clear trip in the Kentucky Derby may
other driver to win over 15,000 races. Filion’s
it’s time to check out what’s available. We suggest Multiview at the top of the list,
be all Union Rags needs to show his true
all-time mark is 15,180 victories, which Palone
but first you might want to sample each of three program page viewing options:
ability and that, Amilia, might be enough
could top in July.
Complete, Condensed and Condensed Plus, by clicking the appropriate link top left
for him to fly home in front and land
on the program page. There’s a whole new personalized world out there. Why not
safely in the winner’s circle.
explore it?