Week 243., ahh..yes, my first week. I found this game on a Tuesday, surfed the site, immediately knew I wanted to have a stable. I searched for horses, made my list of ten, submitted them, and through Mike's good efforts, recieved my stable on Wednesday. Just in time to enter my horses for the weekend races. Now, if I could only find the right races. I was hurried when I chose my stable, also, my selection of races for entering my horses was done in haste.
One horse where I did find the right race for was Babified Silver. In selecting Babified Silver, (Bab's), all I knew was I wanted a horse sired by Silver Hawk. I knew his progeny loved to run on grass courses, and had the stamina to run all day long. Also, a favorite horse of mine is Memories of Silver, who paid a healthy 9/2 ($11.00) to win, in a stakes race at Keenland a couple years ago. Good win. This is also probably why you have certain horses in your stable. Not only by their sires familiar names, but by their bloodlines as well. You've enjoyed their on-track accomplishments, and also have probably learned about, or in some cases, actually known their sire. Or, bottom line; his off-spring win.
I was more fortunate in finding a suitable race for Bab's, than I was in finding suitable races for my other horses, in such short notice. The race I had selected for Bab's had not been completely filled, a MSW (Maiden Special Weight), on the turf, 6.5f (six, and one half furlongs) in Michigan. Or, if you will;
I was anxious, like I'm sure everybody is their first week. What I decided I wanted from Bab's his first race, was a sharp sprint. Preferrably, having him on or near the lead. As it turned out, I got just that.
My jockey instructions:
Go for the lead. My energy setting:
To insure a good and strong effort, but not all out.
As you can see, Bab's took the lead, established a 2-3 lenghth lead, then appeared to lose ground in the stretch. Excellent first race, I thought, then I discovered, it was even better than that. I looked up the track record for T6.5 at MI.; 1:17 4/5 , set a few weeks earlier, slow for a track record, but none the less, a track record. The horse that beat Bab's, is named Tilting That Bow, a very nicely bred horse, sired by Rainbow Quest. TTB roared down the stretch, passing Bab's like he was standing still, shattering the exhisting track record by 3/5th's of a second; 1:17 1/5th. TTB went on from there to take second in a New York An1x, his following race, then finished second in a $150K stakes in California.
The computer also recognized the good MSW race at MI. Bab's, a 45K horse going into the race, turned into a 200K afterwards. I'm not touting Bab's ability, I'm pointing out that CPU values can also be a reflection of the race involved. Remember, Michigan is a Class 3 track, and Bab's only finished second.
Also, note the Speed Rating: 90
I wanted Bab's to be beaten in his first race, so as to get a better read on his ability. For what can be said of a horse that goes wire to wire, in his first start, uncontested? He won't be able to do that every race, especially at longer distances. What I wanted from that first race I was fortunate enough to get.
The second race, I was very confident that Bab's would not be beaten, by any horse. This day, he was ready to win. I felt strongly that Bab's could handle any pace situation that may arise.
Jockey instructions:
I didn't want another suicide, must have the lead scenario. I wanted him to rate, right on the pace.
Energy level:
I didn't want to take the chance of sending out a horse that might come-up short on energy.
My jockey's record:
He likes to win, and knows how to.
The race unfolded like I was hoping it would. Bab's rated on the pace, after the others gave all they could, Bab's took the lead and pulled comfortably away, for an easy win.
Speed Figure: 89
Look at the time of the race; 1:17 2/5, 1/5th of a sec. shy of Tilting That Bows record. Shouldn't the Speed Rating have been higher, seeing as how Bab's ran a faster time than in the previous race?
There is a 'degree of difficulty' incorporated into the Speed Figure. Babified Silver won that race without breaking a sweat, as indicated by the Speed Figure. If the pace of the race had been stronger (faster), then the Speed Figure would have been higher, also, Babified Silver would have beaten the track record. Depending on the pace, Babified Silver was ready to shatter the exhisting track record of 1:17 1/5.
Again, I bring the findings out, not to tout horses, but for us all to have a better understanding of the inner workings of a race.
Beats Me
I'm not here to figure out a computer, I'm here to enjoy what this game has to offer in horseracing, nothing more.
This is just another aspect of how closely this game, and horseracing are so close together.
