[B][I]Hi Richie. THAT IS A REAL GREAT IDEA to have a sperate thread to learn to recognize JIMS POWER LINES.

This part of the MatchUp has been very helpful. The Meditation and the music has helped to look at a race in a deeper way.

I hcp a race while relax and listening to the music and I did pick the WINNER at Hol. An hour later I tried to hcp the same race without the music and I was not able to see what I saw when I was relaxed. Focusing while relaxing seems to work for me. Its like going into a different dimension where everything seems to look very clear and slow.

You can almost hear yourself thinking.

emilio

"The Hat's" Power Lines
 

Let's start this in a few days.

We will cover power lines:
1) What they are
2) How to use them

Richie

Power Lines
 

This is going to be a great post. I've seen elements of this in Richie's example race's and Mr. Bradshaw's races, usually focusing on lines with the 1st call projection, sometimes exclusively. The detail, going line by line will be another hands on work by Richie, and getting really deep into Matching HORSE vs HORSE . I believe the Biggest and greatest part of this teaching exercise is getting TO "the" power line to pick the one and only winner, WITHOUT mentioning or hardly involving, if not all, ADJUSTMENTS. Hold on to yer hats, The MatchUp Guy is on the move! VoodooFan

Jim Bradshaw's "Power Line" - What is it?
 

A "Power Line" is the fastest pace of race showing where the horse finished competitively. Regardless of track or where it is in the past performances.

Here is an example race from yesterday at Delaware Park which also will deal with a couple of other things relating to matching up the "Hat" way. Reversing a tandem being one of them.

but let's show the power lines for the horses first. Power Line(s) will be checked to the left of the pp line.

horse 1

horse 2

horse 3

horse 4

horse 5

horse 6

horse 7

horse 8

horse 9

Take your time and check the lines that are marked as the power lines. This race is fairly simple as far as the lines being recent.

Other races the power lines can be deep in the horses pp's. Then a few things or "checks" have to be done to justify getting to that line but for now let's handle the race shown.

Jim will come on in a day or so and explain what he does with them.

A "Power Line" is the fastest pace of race showing where the horse finished competitively. Regardless of track or where it is in the past performances.


Richie

Richie:

First let me say thanks a million to you and “The Hat” for this advanced training on use of the Match Up. Pace line selection is always the most critical aspect of most methodologies and here we will be getting it directly from the people who know best.

Your statement [quote] A "Power Line" is the fastest pace of race showing where the horse finished competitively. Regardless of track or where it is in the past performances. [end of quote] is straight forward enough. The immediate problem that I have is what happens when the horse has not run at today’s distance, especially if it is an early runner? Or if the horse has run at several distances would you just utilize the competitive race at today’s distance (I would think so).

I know that you and JB do not like to use too much adjusting but in the case of regulating the pace call times for different distances what is the best approach? Right now I have a problem with the RDSS equalization, normalization, and adjustment of races at different distances as to the Match UP. It seems that in some cases the pace call times are adjusted beyond reason. For example so times the 2nd call in a sprint is adjusted to 42 or even 41 which is super fast.

Sorry for the winded post but this is a very interesting subject,

Robert

[QUOTE=mufasa;21588]Richie:

First let me say thanks a million to you and “The Hat” for this advanced training on use of the Match Up. Pace line selection is always the most critical aspect of most methodologies and here we will be getting it directly from the people who know best.

Your statement
Rich:

As an addendum to my previous post on what is the best way to adjust the half mile/pace call time of a given Power Line for different distances then today’s (Route to Sprint or reverse). You had given me before on a final time adjustment for different distances 6.2/5 as a solid and proven figure to adjust final times. I am using this and thank you for that. I wonder if this would apply to adjusting the ½-mile time in a Power Line for different distances but of course a fraction of it. I am thinking maybe a half to one-third of the 6+ seconds.

Thanks,

Robert

Oh correction on quote: thanks 2 million with one for you and the other for JB.

Richie,

I'm following along in the racing form. I'm with you so far except for the 9 horse. I picked the second race back instead of the third.

They were both competitive races. The second line has better early fractions. The only advantage the third line has, that I can see, is the final time. Is final time the reason you went with the third line?

Thanks

Richie,

Three other questions:

1. None of these horses have every gone 1 1/4 miles. So I'm assuming you use races where horses have gone 1 1/8 miles for comparative purposes--if possible. In other words, do you give precedence to horses who have run the longer races?

2. Projecting pace: this presents a problem to me because of the distance. Some of the horses are going to have a fast pace because they ran 1 1/16 or 1 mile races. Others have gone 1 1/8. I'm assuming you use a 1 1/8 race to project the pace.

3. None of the power lines selected show a horse taking the lead. Even though there are a couple of earlies in the race, especially the 6, Indian Vale. This horse will most likely go to the front.

In that case why wouldn't you use a power line that has at least one of the horses taking the lead. Or does that even matter? What am I missing?

Thanks

Turbulator, I hope you do not mind my jumping in here.

As to the 9th race the 3rd line, the line that Rich picked as the Power Line, shows the horse handling the pace much better. That is position wise he is closer and position wise again moving against the pace in question better then in the 2nd race back.

Robert

Use Jim's 6.2 seconds(in fifths) per 1/2 furlong to equalize distances "Mu". Here is the adjustment dealing with 8.3f distances

8f to 8.3f - add 4.2 seconds
8.3f - to 8.5f - add 2 seconds

going back from 8.3-8 and 8.5-8.3 the numbers would be subtracted.

Do NOT get tied up with focusing only on today's EXACT distance when looking for power lines ok? DO NOT.

Consider Hat's "universal adjustment" when mixing distances within the structure ( sprint/route). It is part of this amazing thing called Jim Bradshaw's matchup. Virtually NOBODY will do this.

Richie

"Mu"
The one thing Jim asks is that here in THIS area we do NOT discuss anything related to software and adjusted data readouts ok? Your question is better off posted in RDSS forum.

I use RDSS because I LOVE the paceline screen which shows the raw data in a format I like. The colors point to the earlies and I can assemble the lines on a screen to do some funny stuff with and also "match up". All this is done using only RAW data which is why I post it here.

Jim does NOT like the screen as the colors distract his eye from the whole past performance of the horse.

Richie

[QUOTE=mufasa;21593
You had given me before on a final time adjustment for different distances 6.2/5 as a solid and proven figure to adjust final times. I am using this and thank you for that. I wonder if this would apply to adjusting the ½-mile time in a Power Line for different distances but of course a fraction of it. I am thinking maybe a half to one-third of the 6+ seconds.
Thanks,
Robert
QUOTE]

I was NEVER taught to adjust the 2nd call based on anything other than observing tracks that were either very fast or very slow. These adjustments are made mentally and rely more on "feel" or "instinct" Mu.

The advantage of matching Jim's way is you have TEN pp lines to look at to evaluate. that often allows one to not have to focus on ONE line and instead see the "whole picture" of the horse.

Folks do not like to hear that as it is not concrete/set in stone stuff but it's real man. Thats how I was taught and I am passing it along HONESTLY.

Richie

A "Power Line" is the fastest pace of race showing where the horse finished competitively. Regardless of track or where it is in the past performances.

Let's SEPERATE the other stuff and FOCUS on WHAT is a Power Line.

Rich:

I apologize. I will try to make sure it does not happen again. I just wanted to talk about auto adjustment of ½-mile times vs. something more basic and a paper and pencil way of adjusting directly. This would be preferable because of scratches once at the track.

Thanks,

Robert

NOTHING to apologize for Robert. You didn't know.

Jim knows you are really working on learning this stuff and I hope I can do my best to relate his way of doing things that YOU can grasp and use to make you better. That's my job. :)

Hi Rich. What does Jim consider to be competitive. Is that finishing in the money or the closest finish in terms of lengths.

Sometimes I stop in wonder at what is presented here on this site. To learn of The Hat's thoughts and processes of handicapping is amazing. Thanks to Richie for giving us so much info and in a way that always makes us feel welcome to participate and ask questions. I feel so fortunate to have found this site. To be given access to the knowledge of The Hat, Richie, Bill, Ted and all those who post is incredible. I can never thank all of you enough.

All the best

Gary

P.S. I FINALLY got on the board in the Summer Stakes!

No problem. What about my other question on the nine horse, which relates directly to what is a power line, and how do you select it?

Steve I would NOT use that as a Power Line as he lost BOTH beaten lengths and position 1c-2c.

Jim will see this and answer.
Rich

Steve,

1) I showed Jim the 9 horse's pp's. He would NOT use line 2 as a power line for the reason I stated. He WOULD consider lines 3 and 4 as power lines.

2) "Once we have established power lines for all the horses in the race then each horse's power line is matched against each other to eliminate non contenders in today's race" - The Hat

Jim will come and lay out a few things of interest about the race shown.

Then we will go into some things to watch for when looking at power lines DEEP in the horse's pp's ok? Jim showed me this a while back and it really is pretty cool.

Richie

Hope this point is shown. Even if I'm not gonna use that LAST line, it's sometimes hard to get past. Finding reasonable excuses , 1st time on track, REAL trouble, Pace much faster than projected "TODAY", etc,. The BIGGEST problem of all that I have with the last line is simply to determine FITNESS,and sometimes, without either a REASONABLE excuse or some trouble I can or can't percieve, you look at that last line and say "he just did'nt run at all, not even trying, not even at ONE call ". So you throw the horse out. VoodooFan

Power Line deep in past performances
 

PERFECT example of when NOT to use a Power Line when it is deep in the horse's past performances.

I got an email early this morning from a friend I worked with a bit regarding the Matchup a few months back. He sent me this horse from yesterday at Del Mar that he had tossed immediately.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) The Power Line for the horse is line 6(checked on left side).
21.1- 44.3- 57.0- 110.0 - Positions 1112

2) Running stlye when he wins or runs 2nd - Early (on the lead)
his 1st call times in those 3 races
22.0
21.1
23.0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

One of the questions we have to ask and then answer when considering a "deep" Power Line is:
a) has he changed his running style?

Answer is YES he has. LOOK at the last 3 lines please. What is his POSITION at the 1st call?
5th
4th
7th
the 1st call pace of race in these 3 races
21.3
22.0
21.4

Now check those against the 3 races when he WAS "winning".

Is this the same horse? NO
Has he changed his running style? YES

ok now here is how the Hat taught me in HIS words:
" Rich look to see if an early horse can get on top of fractions in his recent races that he HAS been able to in the past. If he can NOT he has become a SLOW horse. THROW HIM OUT." - Jim Bradshaw

THIS is ONE way of determining NOT to consider a horse's Power Line when it is DEEP in the past performances.

screenshot of the 3 horse who went off favorite and was up the track.

More to come.

Very interesting, Rich. I always wondered about that. It really does explain some things. I never really quite knew how to handle those situations.

I want to ask you about the fractions you quoted. They don't seem to match the RDSS fractions posted.

In the first group of three the 21.1 is different, and in the second group of three they are all different from the RDSS screen. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but what am I missing here?

Thanks

" Rich look to see if an early horse can get on top of fractions in his recent races that he HAS been able to in the past. If he can NOT he has become a SLOW horse. THROW HIM OUT." - Jim Bradshaw

Rich:

As to the Match Up this is a great factor to consider when measuring or considering current form or basic ability/speed deterioration in a contender from months past. In the case of the #3 horse it looks like the trainer tried in vain to drop the horse consistently in class but no matter it never showed the ability to run successfully early as previously shown in the power line race. At first when looking at this horse’s pp’s I was thinking perhaps he was just out of form but the steady drops in class with no sign of any early speed seemed to suggest that there is something else going on here. Would you or JB think that sometimes it could be a case of out of form versus a horse becoming inherently a slower animal now?

Thanks,

Robert

The fractions shown on the RDSS screen are in tenths Steve. The fractions I posted are converted to fifths.

I can convert them quickly in my head so it is no sweat. I was taught in fifths. I match in fifths.

so the 21.1 I listed shows up on RDSS as 21.3(tenths)

[QUOTE=mufasa;At first when looking at this horse’s pp’s I was thinking perhaps he was just out of form but the steady drops in class with no sign of any early speed seemed to suggest that there is something else going on here. Would you or JB think that sometimes it could be a case of out of form versus a horse becoming inherently a slower animal now?
Thanks,
Robert[/QUOTE]

Hi "Mu"
This is gonna sound unreal but it is true. In 13 months of learning Jim's matchup I have NEVER heard him use the word "form" or the term " is he in form?".

I am SERIOUS! I don't think he knows what that is man:eek:

He ALWAYS uses terms like
a) slow horse
b) changed his style
c) can NOT get "on top" of fractions he previously could

see that last one Robert? THAT is something he FOCUSES on big time.

Trying to put you guys "in his head" so to speak. Really consider FOCUSING on "c".

Richie

Excellent. Now you DO.

[quote]see that last one Robert? THAT is something he FOCUSES on big time.

Trying to put you guys "in his head" so to speak. Really consider FOCUSING on "c".[end of quote]

Thanks Rich I will concentrate on "c" as you suggest. In anycase after looking at #3's race again I overstated the class drops.

The horse is slower and since he could not get on top of previous faster run fractions out he goes as to today's Match Up. The horse will have to prove to me in future races that he can match the previous good early foot or establish a new early foot time, even though it will most likely be slower then in the past but perhaps as to a new race match up sufficient.

Thanks,

Robert

Good Stuff
 

That was not only a Good example, that was a GREAT example, Rich. The Hat's personal tutoring and training is making you an crystal clear teacher and very sharp, on top of your game . That was a G*#D*mn perfect example! To have the MatchUp taught like this and broken down piece by piece, wow, dude's should be soppin this up like fresh buttered biscuits made from scratch hot out the oven and mamma's homemade gravy, A-L-L D-A-Y L-O-N-G , man.....eating 'till you get sick, go to the bathroom, then eat some more. With your teaching style, it's like Mr. Rodger's teaching 1st graders and have them, at the very least, give the so-called "experts" a REAL scare and a run for their money. A gen-U-ine "HAT" protege, dude. VoodooFan

Hi Richie. I think there was an other example today at Delmar in the 7th race #4 Wanna Runner. I took a good look and threw him out. I just passed that race.

emilio

Rich, I'd like to add a very big "THANK YOU" to the chorus. This has been an eye opening thread. Your time, "The Hats'" time, and both of your insights are of great value and great interest. Solving these kinds of puzzles has always been one of the great allures of handicapping for me. (Okay, so the money ain't bad either. :) )

And to Bill, thanks for providing the vehicle and all your efforts to keep this site humming. (P.S. I spent a lot of time in Mount Freedom as kid when it was mostly cow pastures and woods. No, it wasn't during the 1800's!!)