Registration

Registration for the first NTRA run event of 2010 began yesterday for the Fountain of Youth tournament. Also opening for registration on Friday is the March 13th online tourney.

As opposed to the Fountain of Youth which is free to tour members, has unlimited contestants, and qualifies 3 for the NHC Finals, the March 13th event is limited to 200 contestants with a $400 entry fee, but qualifies 8. This is the largest qualifier early in the season and one of the best opportunities to take the pressure off and qualify early. So, I’ll be poised and hovering on Friday to grab one of the entries.

The week has been very slow as the weather has closed almost all eastern tracks, and SA and GP have had their dark days, so not many racing opportunities have been available early this week. I have been in Santa Anita’s ‘Winvivor’ and we are down to only 123 live entries after only two days of this free contest.

Another interesting contest which is beginning to start, but which has no affiliation with the NHC Tour, is Twinspires $25,000 Streak to the Derby. This should be a fun contest for those of us following the Derby prep racing. The contest begins February 20th and runs through the 136th Kentucky Derby, Saturday May 1st.

PRIZES: There is a $25,000 total prize pool. Each "Streak" will earn one share in that prize pool. At the completion of the contest, the prize pool ($25,000) will be divided by how many total shares were earned over the course of the contest period. Every time a player wins three consecutive races on their way to a "Streak" they will earn an entry into a drawing for two tickets to the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

HOW TO PLAY: The contest is made up of 18 consecutive Kentucky Derby prep races beginning, Feb 20th, 2010 and concludes with the Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 1st. Players earn one share in the $25,000 prize pool every time they complete a "Streak". To earn a "Streak" players are required to place four consecutive winning $10 (at least) wagers on the races in our "Streak Schedule." Players may begin a new "Streak" at any time.

Youbet also has a ROI tournament in progress, but it is winding down. I’ll have to start checking their site more often to stay abreast of their tournaments. Tomorrow will be a time to once again prepare for the Beat the Host Challenge.

The Day in Wagers: Only played 4 races today - 3 at SA and 1 at GP – and was getting soundly thumped, when Don’t Answer wired the field at 10-1 in a $25k Claimer – SA #2 Charts. With a WPS ticket, the day turned green, and to top it off Big Man Has A Sign cruised home at 1-1 in the 6th to keep the Winvivor ticket alive (129 others are alige going in to Friday).

The Day: ++
Hottie: Big Man Has A Sign 1-1 / 1st
Dream-Maker: Don’t Answer 10-1 / 1st
Heart-Breaker: none
Stable-Baker: none
Bank-Raker: Don’t Answer
Video-Taker: none


“I was planning to go into architecture. But when I arrived, architecture was filled up. Acting was right next to it, so I signed up for acting instead. [On his college registration experience]” ~ G.K. Chesterton