Frank Okasaki Jr.
VA | 2000 Pimlico Horse Handicapping Tournament |
| Occupation:
| Retired US Postal Service |
| Other Accomplishments: |
1) First Place 2001 NTRA Team Championship, Maryland Jockey Club, Team Prize $20,000.
2) First Place 2000 Pimlico Horse Handicapping Tournament $5,000.
3) Second Place 1988 World Championship at Cal Neva $15,000.
4) First Place 1986 Caesar's Palace Handicapping Tournament $50,000 |
| Started Playing:
| Played my first race at Cal Expo at the California State Fair in 1970. Played my first tournament at the initial World Cup of handicapping in 1981 or 82. I also played in the 2nd World Championship tournament at the Cal Neva finishing 7th. I am primarily a tournament handicapper. |
| Handicapping Mentor(s):
| Alex Martinez taught me how to handicap. He moved to Reno after they got simulcast. He plays the pick 6 every day and has been playing horse for close to 70 years. He told me how he handicapped as we sat together at Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows and the Northern California Fair Circuit. Alex taught me how trainer and jockey movements could make the outcome of a race. |
| Handicapping Style:
| I am a tournament handicapper that has competed in more than 50 tournaments over 20 years. To win or place high at handicapping tournaments you have to select long shots that win. I am a long shot handicapper. In the mid to late 1980's I had a very successful run. With several top ten finishes in tournaments. I manually prepared a lot of data on jockeys and trainers. The hot combinations, the jockey tendencies. I spent the 1990's playing one tourney a year and hanging out with our son. As I neared retirement I began planning to go back on the tourney trail. The game had changed and there were 5 or 6 electronic media available for handicapping. I evaluated the data sources available and selected Brisnet. The jockey and trainer statistics combined with the breakdown of early speed into three numbers and a closing factor with totals, seemed like the winning edge. It took me six months to get used to using the information and I started winning tournaments again. |
