Greyhound Handicapping: Spot Plays at Mardi Gras
On Monday, January 28th at Mardi Gras race track, the winner of the first race paid $42.50. I should have had it. I've been following Slatex Lexi June ever since October. Why? Well, Lexi June is one of the dogs that came to Mardi Gras from Flagler.
She's also a dog that hasn't run in a higher grade than C since last July. So, why would I be interested in a dog that couldn't even make it in B at Flagler? I have two reasons.
First, I know that most of the dogs that came to MG from Flagler are doing pretty well there. Second, Lexi June is one of what I call my "bread and butter" dogs. She's not flashy or a candidate for stakes races, but she's dependable in the lower grades.
Slatex Lexi June is one of those dogs that wants the outside. This is not a good trait in a greyhound, unless they're a heck of a breaker and can get the outside and then run that much faster than the dogs running the inside, so that they win. Lexi June loses on both counts.
She's not consistently fast out of the box and she's not faster than a lot of the dogs that run in Grade C and D. But what she can do is manage to win, somehow, often enough to stay in the lower grades without being graded off. How she does this is a mystery to me, but it's enough that she does it.
Every once in a while, she gets the break and takes off and crosses the finish line first and pays very well. That's why I look for her name at MG, but I missed her this time. You might want to make a note to yourself to watch for her, next time she runs, but don't depend on her winning right away. Give her a little time to work up to it.
She has litter mates running at several different tracks, one or two of them in Grade A. Most of them are doing what she does though, managing to stay alive in C and D. You might want to keep an eye out for them and for other dogs like them, also. They may not pay for a meal in a fancy restaurant, but they sure can keep you in bread and butter.
The best way to find this type of dog? Look at any program - you can get them free on the Bet America site - and turn to a lower grade race. Look for dogs that have stayed in either that grade or the next highest grade for their last six races. You're not looking for dogs that have been up in higher grades and have just dropped down. You want dogs that consistently hit the board just enough to stay in the lower grades.
If you find some, follow them. Look at the entries for that grade every day. Greyhound usually run about once a week, so you can have an idea of when to expect the dog to run again. That's all there is to it. If you find the right dogs, keep a list, and don't share it, you'll have a little cash generator for months or even years.
She's also a dog that hasn't run in a higher grade than C since last July. So, why would I be interested in a dog that couldn't even make it in B at Flagler? I have two reasons.
First, I know that most of the dogs that came to MG from Flagler are doing pretty well there. Second, Lexi June is one of what I call my "bread and butter" dogs. She's not flashy or a candidate for stakes races, but she's dependable in the lower grades.
Slatex Lexi June is one of those dogs that wants the outside. This is not a good trait in a greyhound, unless they're a heck of a breaker and can get the outside and then run that much faster than the dogs running the inside, so that they win. Lexi June loses on both counts.
She's not consistently fast out of the box and she's not faster than a lot of the dogs that run in Grade C and D. But what she can do is manage to win, somehow, often enough to stay in the lower grades without being graded off. How she does this is a mystery to me, but it's enough that she does it.
Every once in a while, she gets the break and takes off and crosses the finish line first and pays very well. That's why I look for her name at MG, but I missed her this time. You might want to make a note to yourself to watch for her, next time she runs, but don't depend on her winning right away. Give her a little time to work up to it.
She has litter mates running at several different tracks, one or two of them in Grade A. Most of them are doing what she does though, managing to stay alive in C and D. You might want to keep an eye out for them and for other dogs like them, also. They may not pay for a meal in a fancy restaurant, but they sure can keep you in bread and butter.
The best way to find this type of dog? Look at any program - you can get them free on the Bet America site - and turn to a lower grade race. Look for dogs that have stayed in either that grade or the next highest grade for their last six races. You're not looking for dogs that have been up in higher grades and have just dropped down. You want dogs that consistently hit the board just enough to stay in the lower grades.
If you find some, follow them. Look at the entries for that grade every day. Greyhound usually run about once a week, so you can have an idea of when to expect the dog to run again. That's all there is to it. If you find the right dogs, keep a list, and don't share it, you'll have a little cash generator for months or even years.