Fantasy Racing
Here we are at Breeders' Cup week. The most important thing for you to remember is that your selections this week are for FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6-7. That means that your picks need to be made by 10:30 a.m. (CST) on Friday. The other important thing for you to know is that you get a choice of four trainers and four jockeys. They are all participating in Breeders' Cup races, but you'll get points for anything they score at Santa Anita on Friday and Saturday. That includes the non Breeders' Cup races which are contested on thos days as well. Next week we'll return to the more normal routine, but we felt it was so important for you to be able to concentrate entirely on the racing at Santa Anita on Friday and Saturday that we would limit the Weekly Fantasy Racing Stable competition this week only to Santa Anita. We hope you have a great Breeders' Cup. Naturally, here at Oaklawn we'll be watching closely for performances by the likes of Zenyatta, Summer Bird and Gayego, all horses who have raced here at Oaklawn. But we know that the switch to the synthetic surface changed the way results came across at Santa Anita last year and clearly the European horses made an important impact. You have plenty of the Europeans to pick from this week. Good luck.
One thing we don't think we have to worry about this week is the weekly warning to do your homework. Most of us here work the Breeders' Cup races harder than any outside of those raced at Oaklawn from January-April. The good news is that the deadline for stall applications for the live 2010 meet at Oaklawn has passed and we will be hearing more about the strength of our stable area in the coming weeks. Here in Hot Springs the weather is terrific this week and track superintendent Steve Breckling is very positive about having the track ready for the arrival of horses on the ground by the middle of the month. These are the beginnings of exciting times for live racing fans at Oaklawn.
Once again, your selections this weekend will be for two unusual days, Breeders' Cup days, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6-7. Your entries will need to be made by 10:30 a.m. (CST) on Friday. Keep in mind the monthly element of this contest is special because it requires you to do your homework weekly and keep tabs on who's hot and who's not. This is a five-week contest, so the monthly prize aspect of this competition still has a ways to go. But nothing beats haveing a great Breeders' Cup weekend. That's just another part of what makes the WFRC the most challenging FREE competition on the Internet.
Normally we are using jockeys and trainers from a half dozen different tracks, except for this week, Breeders' Cup week. You may select four altogether, but remember that they receive points only for the races they run at the track indicated and this week that means Santa Anita only and only for Friday and Saturday. Normally, for instance, for jockey Ramon Dominguez, he receives points only for races at Aqueduct (the "Aqu" after his name tells you the track where he is earning points on Saturday and Sunday). Should he make a decision to go out of town, you will not get points he scores at another track. That works for all the jockeys and trainers. We find it happening more frequently with trainers, since they tend to ship horses all over the place. We've attempted to place trainers where they run the most horses and have the best chance to score points for you. Just like last week, you will be choosing four jockeys and four trainers to work for you this weekend. They are all of the same value. All will get five (5) points for a win, three (3) points for a second and one (1) point for a third place finish.
Each weekly winner scores for an Oaklawn cap. The player with the most points for the month of November will be receiving a collection of Breeders' Cup memorabilia. What a nice way to remember Breeders' Cup, with memorabilia that will otherwise only be available to some who atttend the event. Remember that's the monthly prize. But you can be a winner every week. So get ready to have another great weekend following the races and playing the Weekly Fantasy Racing Challenge, the most fun FREE contest on the Internet.
Remember the WFRC competition for this weekend is for two days, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6-7. You must have your picks done by 10:30 a.m. (CST) on Friday. Don't forget!! We will not be able to take selections made after that time this week. Check in here each week to be sure about whatever changes are being made.
If you have not already done so, you'll need to go through the registration process again. Click here to register. This does remain the best FREE horse racing contest on the Internet, so you will not be asked for any money to play. In the meantime, don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.
Over the past weekend we enjoyed a sole winner, Annie Kenny of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Chuck King of Townsend, Massachusetts, Daniel Musetti of Watertown, Massachusetts and James Grenseman of Tulsa, Oklahoma, all tied for second, five points behind the winner.
Annie scored her win by tabbing the best-possible jockey combination of Eibar Coa (27 points), Robby Albarado (34 points), Ramon Dominguez (26 points) and Rafael Bejarano (29 points), along with a trainer team of Dale Romans (10 pints), Bob Baffert (30 points), John Sadler (20 points) and Steve Asmussen (22 points), for a total of 198 points. Daniel and James used the same team of jockeys Albarado, Dominguez, Bejarano and Cliff Berry (21 points), along with a trainer squad of Baffert, Sadler, Asmussen and Barclay Tagg (11 points). Chuck's team included jockeys Coa, Albarado, Bejarano and Berry, along with trainers Romans, Bafferty Sadler and Asmussen. The best possible team for the weekend would have been worth 205 points and includes jockeys Coa, Albarado, Dominguez and Bejarano, along with a trainer quartet of Baffert, Sadler, Asmussen and Hugh Robertson (15 points). For her great work, Annie will be receiving an Oaklawn cap.
For the month of October the win went to Chuck King, who held off Steve Hansen, by five points. For this month Annie Kenny moves into first place. The history of this competition, however, suggests that the leaderboard will see considerable change, especially in the week after Breeders' Cup. Don't forget the homework part.
We are happy to have all of you participating with us as we approach the excitement of Breeders' Cup this weekend. In the meantime you have chance to pick up some prizes and bragging rights, so don't miss the opportunity.
Remember the selections this weekend are for two the two Breeders' Cup days, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6-7, and you get to pick four jockeys and trainers for all the races of those two days at Santa Anita.
Good luck
The Commissioner's Office
If you have any questions regarding this Contest, please contact Oaklawn via email at commissioner@oaklawn.com.
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