WINNING WITH WORKOUTS
FEBRUARY 10, 2005
In this regular weekly feature, Handicapper’s Report will present examples of
how to use workouts in your handicapping using actual results with horses
featured in our reports. To access the HR reports and to see highlights of
our recent results,
click here.
Today’s Topic: The time recorded for a workout may not indicate the
significance of the drill
As they say, time only counts when you are in jail. That often is the case in
morning workouts. There are “workouts within works” and the internal fractions
may be more important than the final time in determining the significance. An
example from our reports occurred on January 29 at Santa Anita when GOODNEWS BAY
(Lost Soldier) was entered in the 2ND race with a slow half-mile drill in :51.2.
Normally that would be judged by the public as a negative sign or certainly not
a positive sign for expected afternoon performance. However, our clocker saw it
differently, noting the strong finish and the nice gallop out, giving the horse
a grade of B. Goodnews Bay horse won and paid $14.40.
| GOODNEWS BAY | — | SA 01/14/05 B FT 51.2H |
| A slow half in :51.1 and
appeared to be getting stronger in deep stretch to go the final eighth in :12.2 and then galloped out well into the turn. Better than the slow time would suggest. A good drill. |