Picking Contenders & Pacelines

[For The Lead]

This is a $25,000 claiming race with a non winners of 2 races condition. (NW2L)

#1 - no line. although the last race was a "starter allowance" it is very close in purse and exactly the same condition. The horse did not perform well and I did not see an excuse for going back a line. It's lifetime record suggests the horse like to run 2nd and 3rd.
#2 - no line. dull form.
#3 - no line. dull form.
#4 - last line. a good 2nd.
#5 - SCR
#6 - last line. The horse ran well to the top of the stretch and I want to see how it fits with other pace players.
#7 - no line. last race was the first race back after a long layoff. it was a dull race.
#8 - line 2. the last race wasn't a bad race to the top of the stretch against starter allowance horses with today's condition. the line 2 back was against the same class level and same condition as today's and the horse ran a good second.
#9 - last line. I could have used line 2. the last race was against starter allowance horses with a NW2L condition and its' race two back was exactly the same as today's race. I'm not concerned about the finish position. My interest is how it will match up with the early pace.

The winner, #8, paid $27.60.

NOTE: when I looked at the segments screen the #6 horse showed it was fastest at the first two fractions. This shows the horse as early, but the horse really isn't an early horse. it has never been better than 3rd (once) at the first call of any race.