Handicapping Contests A "Bettor" Alternative

Similar to both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, I find American Pharoah unbeatable and, therefore, better used atop higher-denomination exacta and trifecta bets and strictly for use as a single in multi-race exotic wagers.

You may read a lot of handicappers (or mainstream media posing as handicappers) over the next 48 hours coming out of the woodwork to make a case for early-speed types Upstart and Competitive Edge or, if the race falls apart under ridiculously fast fractions, late-runner Keen Ice.  

I would tread carefully banking on what many say and think most of the competitors do not belong in the same discussion let alone on the same track, since it's pretty clear that American Pharoah is infinitely better than the 7 rivals entered for the $1.75 million Haskell.

That being said, there are three primary wagering-hub alternatives to betting on the race that should draw one's attention to enjoy the action on Sunday.

"What's A Handicapping Contest?"

Finally I am back in my wheelhouse, talking about my favorite extracurricular activity and less about hotels, restaurants and New Jersey Transit trains.

Simply put, in a handicapping (a.k.a. picking winning horses) contest, players pay a fee -- but some are free -- to compete in a field of other contestants for a share of prizes ranging from straight-up cash to entries to the $2.5 million National Handicapping Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas.

You might (or might not) have read that I qualified for my first NHC last season.  It was the thrill of a lifetime and a decent achievement for a weekender to compete against professionals, and a place I am attempting to revisit through this year's qualifying season.

The typical contest emphasizes picking winners and uses a pre-set selection of races from one or more tracks in which each player make a notional $2 win/place wager on one horse.  

If your horse wins, you get the dollar value of that horse's real win/place payout; pick the runner-up and get that horse's place payout.  Player with the highest total bankroll at the end wins.

Simple, right?

There are a host of options to choose from this Sunday and I'll highlight those worth considering.

Free Contests - Haskell Challenge

If you have never played a single handicapping contest, Monmouth Park's "Haskell Challenge" is probably the best place to start.

Free to enter at www.haskellgame.com

In the Haskell Challenge, there's no cost to enter, and you will try pick a winner for all 14 races on Sunday's program, and Monmouth Park provides free "past performances" that you can use as a guide to make your selections. 

Here, your mythical bets are $2 "across the board" wagers on one horse.  

If your horse wins, you collect the combined win, place and show values and move up the leaderboard.  Pick the second-place runner and you get the place and show payouts.  Pick third and get the show payout.  

Scoring is cumulative over the 14 races, with the winner getting a sweet prize package for two to the 2015 Breeders Cup in Lexington, Kentucky's Keeneland Race Course.

Second- and third-highest finishing bankrolls win $500 and $200 cash, respectively.

NHC Tour-Focused Contests

If you have never heard of the "NHC Tour," a $50 annual membership gives the more-frequent contest players the opportunity to qualify for the $2.5 million NHC Championship, which is a 3-day no-entry-fee handicapping contest in Las Vegas.  

Most NHC Tour-focused contests require an entry fee, ranging anywhere from $40 to $3,000, depending on the host site.  

However, NHC Tour membership also includes access to 5 "free" members-only online contests where the Top 4 finishers earn spots in Las Vegas.

This weekend happens to be one of those freebies.  

It's never too late the join the NHC, so if you want to play on Sunday fork over 50 bucks to become a member and gain access to the contest.

Sunday's contest is hosted by NHCQualify.com and features 10 races from 5 different tracks, including Woodbine, Saratoga, Del Mar, Ellis Park and Monmouth Park.  

Consider the 8th contest race -- the Haskell -- a "free square" (akin to a bingo card) and pick American Pharoah for a small notional return, or roll the dice on one of the bomber long-shots, and try to connect with some prices in the other 9 contest races.  Good luck to those who enter!

Cash-Prize Contests: Derby Wars and HorseTourneys.com

Federal laws allow for fantasy sports websites to legally run cash-based handicapping contests, so there's nothing offshore or suspicious about it. 

You've probably seen a zillion TV ads for FanDuel or with the snooty pitchman for Draft Kings, but there are horse racing-focused fantasy/contest sites worth attention. 

If you're interested in small-ante tournaments as low as $1-$3, or are a higher-stakes sort willing to pony up $375 for a shot at $5,000 first-prize, then visit Derby Wars.

The Derby Wars interface is probably the most interactive on the market, offering in-game chat between contestants and other user-friendly features.

Derby Wars is one of several NHC qualification hubs as well, although the less-than-favorable percentages (1/100 for the August 7 and 14 qualifiers) to get through Derby Wars and to Las Vegas in January keep me away from using the site more often, but I know the site is good and several people who prefer playing for real cash prizes instead of entries to NHC or other big tourneys. 

For reasons expressed above, as an NHC Tour member my loyalties are more with HorseTourneys.com, which is the most prominent NHC qualifying hubs for online handicapping contests but also has cash-prize tournaments for multiple players and, similar to Derby Wars, head-to-head action. 

Recall that, Thursday, I addressed the "takeout" theme.

Whereas 19% for Monmouth Park's daily doubles is among the best in the industry (i.e., the track keeps, as profit, 19 cents of every dollar bet), the typical HorseTourneys.com contest charges a mere 9.1% takeout.  

In essence, far more of players' contest entry fees go back to the players, which is why you should pay attention.  

For example, in Sunday's $850 "pick and pray" (i.e., enter your selections on all 8-12 contest races before the first goes off and let it ride), it costs a mere $12 and the top five finishers come away with respective cash winnings of $400, $200, $150, $75 and $25. 

Higher rollers can spend $190 to enter a 44-player tournament where top prize is $3,750 and the takeout is 10.3%. 

Options Abound

Sunday provides a good opportunity for prospective players to kick the tires on the nascent handicapping contest circuit and view wagering from a completely different perspective.

Strategies vary by player, but most will agree that in addition to needing a bit of good fortune in the race outcomes, it's important to sprinkle in some long-shot selections along the way; playing all favorites is not going to work, much as I would argue with Sunday's Haskell Invitational and is primarily the reason the Haskell is, in my view, not a great "win" bet scenario.

American Pharoah's probably going to be bet down to 1-to-9, so a $2 win bet to win 10 cents of profit just is not worth it (see more from Thursday's blog on the on-track betting menu). 

On that note, in my upcoming and final pre-Haskell blog, I will break down the Haskell 2015 field and propose some real-money betting thoughts for Sunday.

Phinding Phair Betting Value At Sunday's Haskell

Addressing an entirely different menu than yesterday's restaurant suggestions, here I tackle the betting options for Sunday's card at Monmouth Park, highlighted by what is now the $1.75 million Grade 1 Haskell (purse was increased yesterday from $1 million), scheduled to go off just before 6 p.m. and Race #12 on a 14-race program.

Please be clear that I am not making selections yet (I expect to do that in a later installment), but rather addressing the types of wagers that will be available, along with a brief reference to "takeout", or the house's cut of each bet you make.

Readers would be well-advised, first, to read Lenny Moon's explanation on the Equinometry blog of "Picking the Proper Parimutuel Pools" to get a tutorial on each specific wager.  Lenny provides thorough, simple explanations for wagerers based on each person's bankroll range. 

I share Lenny's belief that a person with a $40-$50 bankroll for the day should not be lured into multi-race "exotics," but rather focus on win-place-show or, at most, daily double and exacta bets.  If exacta and daily double are too confusing, then scale down your expectations and consider bets based on the program handicappers' selections or listening to the free race-by-race analysis provided over the loud speakers by Mike Curci and Brad Thomas for some win-bet ideas.  

In sum, you might hear people talking about bets like "Pick 4" or "Jersey Shore Pick 6" but those are akin to the lottery, even for the deeper-bankrolled players and pro handicappers.  Just ignore those.

3 Equitable Betting Options

Based on published "takeout" rates on Monmouth Park's website and the ease of these concepts, and consistent with the advice I typically give customers as a volunteer racing ambassador, I recommend 3 bets: win (or "win-place" in spots), exacta (straight or "box"...more on that later) and daily double.

There are several reasons -- the concepts are easy to grasp, one can profit a bit (more so with the exacta and daily double bets) and the "takeout" favors the bettor more than other betting options at Monmouth Park: 17% on win-place-show and 19% on exacta and the daily double.  

The lowest takeouts at Monmouth Park are 15% on the more-complex Pick 4 and Pick 5, where bettors need to pick the winner in a specified 4- or 5-race sequence.

Here you'll generally find your bigger-bankroll players, since the cost is higher for exponentially higher return potential; Monmouth, to simplify, only keeps as profit 15 cents of every dollar bet into the pool, which is way better than in the trifecta and Pick 3 pools (25% takeout, 75% final payout to bettors).   

Win or Win-Place (17% "Takeout")

Monmouth's takeout outstrips top rival summer tracks Woodbine (14.95%), Del Mar (15.4%) and Saratoga (16%), but is around the median for the industry, according to Horseplayer Association of North America's 2015 Track Ratings.  

On a minimum $1 win, place or show wager, in other words, Monmouth Park keeps 17 cents of profit, and your final win payout (say, $5 on a $1 win bet on a horse at final odds of 5-to-1) is from the other 83 cents in the parimutuel "pool".

The betting concept otherwise is simple -- bet on the horse you want to win, finish second (place) or third (show).  To be clear, betting $2 on a horse to "show" produces the "show" payout if the horse wins, not the higher win payout. 

The "show" payout is usually a waste of time (unless there's a "bridge-jumper" effect, as I'll discuss below as a likelihood for American Pharoah in the Haskell), since the "pool," or total dollar value of show bets track wide, is generally small.  In short, a 2-1 favorite who wins will pay (on a $2 bet) $6 to win ($4 profit, plus your initial $2 investment), $3 and change to place and $2.20 to show. 

Is it really worth betting $2 to show on a favorite (or most horses)?  Probably not, unless that 20-cent profit is going to set you up for life or merely boost your ego in making a winning bet.

I generally encourage straight win bets, or in the case of a long-shot (say, 10-to-1 odds or more) a $2 win-place bet that will still yield a profit even if your horse finishes second.

Exacta (19% "Takeout"), Straight or "Box"

Monmouth's is third-lowest in North America, according to HANA, behind little-known Kentucky Downs (18.25%) and the three New York tracks (Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct: 18.5%), giving a great option to bettors to bet in a high-return pool.  

I am increasingly surprised at customers' lack of insight on the exacta concept whenever I'm volunteering at Monmouth Park.  

Simply put, bet as little as $1 to pick the first- and second-place runners in order of finish to produce a much higher return on the wager than a win, place or show bet.

Say you logically think the #6, Asskicker, is going to pummel the field; but you're also into hunches and there's the #7 horse at 20-to-1, Gladys, like your great grandma.  

You're torn which to bet your last $2. 

Sure, you can come away with $2.20 and a slightly bigger ego on your win bet on the big favorite (#6), or $42 in the event that Gladys (#7) shocks the world.  

However, there's a more-profitable option: the exacta.

You can play a $2 "straight" exacta (go to the betting window and say "$2 exacta #6 and #7"), in which Asskicker must finish first and Gladys must finish second in order for you to cash a winning ticket.  

Another option is to hedge your bet and play a $1 "exacta box #6 and #7," in which case you win so long as Asskicker and Gladys both finish first and second.  

The payout will be much higher if Gladys upends Asskicker, but either way you'll come away with a more-lucrative payout than a win bet on Asskicker (and potentially Gladys).

Naysayers will argue that you're wasting $1 of your $2 right off the bat (since one of the bets will come out a loser if the other wins), but to me that's too technical for the Haskell Day crowd and I'd fully endorse the exacta box wager.

Daily Double (19% Takeout)

Monmouth Park again deserves credit here for one of the lowest takeouts in North America (see "DD Takeout" on the HANA chart).  

On Sunday, Monmouth will have daily double wagering starting on Races 1 through 13.

This is another simple concept -- for a minimum $1 wager, select the winners of back-to-back races.

The "double," back in the day, was only offered in 2 races (1 early, 1 late card) and the only "exotic" wager offered at the track, but seems to now play second fiddle to "multi-race exotics" like the Pick 3, 4, 5 and 6 featured on TVG and other horse handicapping venues.  

However, a 19% takeout is low relative to the Pick 3 (25%) and 10-cent Pick 6 (20%) and easier. 

Let's invoke American Pharoah's name here.  

You're convinced, like me, that he's going to route the Haskell field (Race 12) and will not be bet-able as a win, place or show proposition; who wants to risk $2 to make 10-20 cents of profit, after all.

Instead, you can play either a Race 11-12 daily double or Race 12-13 daily double, using American Pharoah as your single selection for Race 12.

You can bet 1 horse per race, or the entire field.

Say Gladys is the horse you like in Race 11.  As a 20-to-1 long-shot, you'd be well-advised to make a $1 daily double bet (go to the teller and say "Race 11, $1 daily double #7 with insert American Pharoah's # here").  

If Gladys upsets the field and Pharoah dominates the Haskell, you're in for a really nice return.

If you have $10 burning a hole in your pocket and love Pharoah but no idea which of the 10 horses to take in Race 13, you can play the Race 12 double with Pharoah on top of the entire 10-horse Race 13 field, hoping to maybe catch an enormous long-shot that turns your 10 bucks into, say, 30 bucks ("Race 12, $1 double Pharoah with ALL").  

The downside is maybe about $5-$6 of losses if the big favorite wins Race 13 in the above scenario and you only get a few bucks back for your winning double ticket with 2 prohibitive favorites.

1 Haskell Bet Worth Considering -- $2 ALL (except Pharoah) to SHOW

Extremely wealthy (and/or nutty) bettors will sometimes bet solely into the Show pool on a horse they sense is guaranteed to finish in the top 3 of a race.  

You'll generally find this at lower-tier tracks, such as in West Virginia, where the state mandates a 10% return on investment on show bets (10 cents to the dollar), contrary to most states (5%).  Very few places you'll be able to make a 10% return on investment in a minute or two...

I'm making up numbers, but in some cases, you'll see $500,000 bet into the show pool on 1 horse, compared with $10,000 in the win pool and $5,000 in the place pool.

The end result is 1-to-9 odds on the prohibitive favorite and what's known as a "bridge-jumper" (whereby the person(s) who bet gobs of money on that horse would jump off the nearest bridge if the horse finishes 4th or worse).

Show pools often skew a horse's odds, and based on the suspect field that Pharoah's facing in the Haskell, I am speculating that Pharoah could get sent off at 1-to-5 or 1-to-9.

Watch the Haskell
"show pool"

Keep an eye on the show pool, found on the infield tote board at Monmouth Park.

If infinitely more money is bet on Pharoah to show than to win, it might behoove you to bet $2 to show on all of the other horses in the field.

God forbid Pharoah stumbles out of the gate and pulls up in the backstretch to avoid potential injury and does not finish the race, all of that show money in Pharoah's pool would go to the top 3 finishers, and likely to the tune of at least $20 apiece.  

If each pays $20, your $12 of total show wagers (6 horses at $2 to show each = a $12 investment) would yield at least a $48 profit ($60 total return), and profiting is what betting horse racing is all about.

I would completely understand it, though, if you make a $2 win bet on Pharoah to have the ticket for history's sake, but consider backing that up with "$2 ALL, except Pharoah" to show.  

I have seen instances where bridge-jumper losses resulted in an $80 show payout on a horse, so for the risk of a $7-$8 loss, to me it's worth considering.

Next posting, I will take a look at a more-nuanced subject: "handicapping contests" being offered this weekend surrounding the Haskell Invitational. 

Phat Eats Near Monmouth Park

Now that everyone knows where to stay and how to get to Monmouth Park for Sunday's Haskell Invitational and American Pharoah's $600,000 workout, here are some restaurants within 15 minutes of the track and near and dear to the NJ Horseplayer camp worth sampling if you're in town for the weekend.

Mirroring my writing style, some are off the beaten path, not to mention casual.

Others, namely in the pizza realm, are always subject to great debate among locals as to which one deserves supremacy.

The premise here is to share a dozen or so local eateries (most are first-come, first-served) and help you avoid the highway chains littering the landscape.

There's plenty of flavor a short distance from Monmouth Park.

Vic's, Bradley Beach:  Best sauce and thin crust pizza in the area.  I recommend the "special" (homemade crumbled sausage and green pepper) and chopped antipasto, but the pepperoni pizza is extremely fresh as well and the restaurant's ambiance is casual.  It's an amazing old-school tomato pie. About a 10-minute drive from Monmouth Park, down either Rt. 71 or Rt. 35 South.

Pete & Elda's, Neptune City:  Locals tend to be in either the Vic's or Pete & Elda's camp, but you cannot go wrong with the tomato pies/pizza here either.  It's akin to being either a Pat's or Geno's guy for Philly cheesesteaks.  Situated on Rt. 35 South, be prepared to wait at Pete & Elda's; very popular place year round with tight parking.

Zachary's, West Long Branch:  On Oceanport Avenue, literally across Rt. 36 from Monmouth Park,  Zachary's is where Red Rock or Bust and I lick our wounds after many a handicapping contest at Monmouth.  If you have not noticed yet, pizza is a staple for me, but Zachary's is very underrated and has a great bar that's big and serves $5 pitchers of ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon.  Dinner menu is diverse and food's good in general.  Recommend sausage & pepper pie and buffalo wings. 

Casa Comida, Long Branch:  About a mile from the backside of Monmouth Park, this Mexican establishment serves a fine golden margarita that'll knock your socks off, and although I have only been here once, I trust the opinion of friend and fellow NHC Tour member Paul Zerbst in recommending the food as well; Paul even went post-contest in a blizzard once.  That must tell you something (one individual's insanity aside).

Kelly's Corner Tavern, Neptune:  The absolute BEST open-faced corned beef Reuben on the planet, and I've had people far and wide attest to that fact.  The "mini" is sufficient enough; get the "large" version at your own risk, or plan on sharing.  A great bar, and Kelly's is open from 7 a.m.-2 a.m., serving Irish-style breakfast as well; so, take that, Parting Glass Pub (Saratoga)!  If you're a hard-core foodie, this is a half-mile from Vic's and Pete & Elda's; try all 3 in a day!

Brick Wall Tavern, Asbury Park:  The filet mignon sandwich with frizzled onions and blue cheese crumbles on a potato roll is mouthwatering.  The bar menu is extensive, and any establishment that serves a Kentucky Hot Brown should resonate well with visitors from the Bluegrass State.  Within walking distance of the famous Stone Pony and Asbury boardwalk as well.  Sister restaurant Porta, known for its Tuscan-style pizzas, is also in Asbury Park.

Lincroft Inn, Middletown:  Practically walking distance from the NJ Horseplayer homestead in Tinton Falls, hands down this is the best burger in the area.  A lot of folks will sell you on Barnacle Bill's in Rumson, but for my money Lincroft Inn's boss.  The building is a few hundred years old, but the bar is outstanding and TVG is always on.  Barely 15 minutes from Monmouth Park; a good place for anyone staying at any of the hotels along Newman Springs Road over the weekend.

Juanito's, Red Bank:  I'm partial to the Camarones Cinco de Mayo and Enchiladas Del Mar (no horse racing pun intended), but by all accounts the food here is solid and it's BYOB.

La Pastaria, Red Bank:  I am a big proponent of TripAdvisor, but would dismiss several of the negative ratings for this Italian gem, as I have dined next to strangers in Red Bank who can be on the rude and pretentious side.  La Pastaria is another BYOB establishment that, for my money, has some of the best Italian food in the area; seafood dishes also are above-average.  It's on a side street and a little hard to find but worth the visit.   

Mumford's Culinary Center, Tinton Falls:  Actually a culinary school that serves mostly breakfast, lunch and baked goods (closes around 3:30-4 p.m.), Mumford's is a hidden gem that makes outstanding sandwiches and fresh fare picked from the gardens right outside the restaurant.  They're not open on Sundays, but do not hesitate to stop here en route to a day at the track; it's about an 8-minute drive from Monmouth Park and located at 33 Apple Street (07724) if using your GPS.

Mike's Giant Submarines, Belmar and Pat's Market, Lincroft:  Perhaps a low-brow suggestion, but subs (not "hoagies," "grinders," etc.) are a great idea for anyone looking to pick up some deli for a day in the Monmouth Park picnic area/BYOB sections.  For my money, Pat's (a butcher shop in a strip mall too short on parking but that happens to make great food) has THE best sandwiches in the area, but Mike's also makes a nice sub on fresh Nino's (the gold standard) rolls. Mike's or Pat's are infinitely better than the better-known Jersey Mike's, and unless you plan on insulting New Jerseyans, do not stroll into the picnic area with a Subway foot-long under your arm.

Manhattan Clam Chowder, Monmouth Park:  I **** you not, Monmouth Park's clam chowder is one of the best around, in my opinion.  Now, you can find a lot of decent New England clam chowder along the Jersey Shore, and in fact Stefano's on Long Beach Island's is so good the restaurant won for "best chowder" in Newport, RI in 2014.  (If you want to take the hour's drive south from Monmouth Park, I'd suggest a reservation at Stefano's...best seafood restaurant in NJ hands down).  However, I have yet to find award-winning red chowder nearby and rank Monmouth Park's as my favorite.  Stop by the downstairs concession stand near the grandstand bar on the ground floor, fork over $5 and prepare for what is, perhaps, the best dining experience from the track's concessions.

Check back in after you've tried these places and share your thoughts in the comment field.

In my next post, I'll share thoughts on a different kind of menu...

The betting options on Haskell Day!

Pharoah's Shacking Up In Kelly Breen's Barn...How About You?

America's Favorite Triple Crown winner is coming to Oceanport on Wednesday, in case you hadn't heard (and rumor has it he's already on trainer Bob Baffert's back about scoring chili cheese dogs for the two of them from Max's).

In perhaps the most monumental day in Monmouth Park's history, American Pharoah clearly is the hot ticket for Sunday's Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.  

Baffert and his steed head for Haskell, Max's glory?
Source: scorpiondagger.tumblr.com

After landing at Atlantic City Airport, Pharoah will have a motorcade to Monmouth Park, where he'll be crashing on trainer Kelly Breen's couch for a few days in advance of being the 1-9 favorite, but rumor has it you might have a harder time with accommodations and getting into and around Oceanport.

Fear Not, NJ Horseplayer Is Here To Help

In the spirit as one of just a few volunteer "Racing Ambassadors" at Monmouth Park, I'll provide unsolicited advice on accommodations, dining and other words to the wise, leading off with travel options and some area hotels to consider.

Getting to Monmouth Park on Sunday is going to be treacherous, make no bones about it.

Word is there's no cap on general admission tickets, and 60,000 are projected to attend.

I live barely 10 minutes away and am somewhat fearful of driving in and parking at 9 a.m., but will likely do so since my wife, kids and other family are coming in later from Middletown train station, where parking is abundant and the train is 3 stops north of Monmouth.  A one-way train ticket's a good option in that regard if you have a ride out after the races, and I'm their lift home.

Drive At Your Own Risk

There's one primary thoroughfare in and out of Oceanport: Route 36, accessible from Garden State Parkway Exit 105.  

It's a short highway that turns from four lanes off the Parkway into two and backs up all the time even without the strain of a Haskell crowd (usually 35,000-40,000). 

Sunday's looking like a solid beach day, so prepare for the worst and heavy beach traffic, especially getting out of the parking lot after the Haskell and if headed north up the Parkway. 

Local roads are generally a hassle-free escape on a typical track day, but with record-high crowds expected for Haskell Day, the police from host Oceanport have already issued a press release pertaining to road closures and not parking on Borough streets.  Oceanport Avenue will be closed entirely from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. up to Port Au Peck Avenue, so avoid driving if possible.

Stay tuned to Oceanport Police's Twitter feed (@OPDnj) for additional warnings.

Monmouth Park's management already sounded that warning (albeit buried in its press release), and in a supposed bid to discourage people from driving/parking and to encourage the use of New Jersey Transit trains, will charge you $20 to park in the general lots and $40 for valet. 

Carpool and plan on tailgating after the races for an hour or two if you must drive, but with WordOnTheShore reporting road closures as well in Eatontown (the part of Rt. 36 between the Parkway and Oceanport), consider the other major option.

Use NJ Transit Trains

As noted, there's a lot of parking at Middletown train station, but several other nearby options from which to choose.

I have never had to take the train to the track, but as a New York City commuter from the Jersey Shore area can lend some advice.  

My only hope is that Monmouth Park management does a better job than the NYRA did with last year's Belmont Stakes mass transit, which by all accounts was a disaster.  Monmouth is reporting the addition of trains to and from the track, but I am a bit unclear whether the typical train package that includes train fare, track admission and a program, will be offered as usual...or how many "additional" trains will be added on Sunday.

(Tuesday update 1 p.m., New Jersey's Transportation Commissioner confirms to Asbury Park Press that northbound trains will be added on the evening runs and encourages people to buy round-trip tickets in advance; please note too that the Monmouth Park stop is not ADA compliant.)

Regardless, the train stop is on the back side of the track and it's just a short walk.

The line runs from Bay Head to the south all the way to New York's Penn Station.  

Here's the latest timetable I could find for the North Jersey Coastline. 

If you are starting by car from anywhere north of the Driscoll Bridge or, say, the New Brunswick area, favorable park-and-ride options South Amboy, Aberdeen or Middletown stations have more-abundant parking than the likes of Little Silver (right next door to Oceanport).  

South Amboy, my original hometown, is 32 minutes by train to Monmouth Park and a good place to grab packaged goods for the ride and has decent eateries after the train ride back north. 

If you're driving from the south and need to park and ride for the train, take into account potential competition with people spending the day at the beach (Belmar, for one); on that front I'm less useful, so please do you own research on best train stop for your needs. 

Hotel and Train

Monmouth Park lists some partner hotels on its primary website, but there are other options in the surrounding area to consider.  I'm not a Monmouth Park employee or a travel agent, but here are some outside-the-box places to consider if you are coming to the area for more than the day.

Red Bank:  Molly Pitcher Inn -- some rooms available on Sunday night and an easy walk to the train station, plus access to great dining and nightlife. 

Route 35 Corridor (between Keyport and Middletown): There are some basic hotels such as the Holiday Inn (Hazlet) that put you within earshot of the NJ Transit line to Monmouth Park; more your standard-fare business traveler hotel, but acceptable for an overnight stay instead of a long drive home in Sunday evening beach traffic.

Lincroft: There are two business-traveler/suite-style hotels off Exit 109 of the Parkway right near my house -- Courtyard Lincroft Marriott and Extended Stay Red Bank that are less than five minutes from the Red Bank and Little Silver train stations.  More convenient than the 35 Corridor.

Tinton Falls:  Last but not least, my current hometown.  Courtyard and Residence Inn are probably tops, but there are a handful of others as well right off of Route 36 just off the Parkway.  The disadvantage is you're a 5-minute drive without traffic to Monmouth Park, but mass transit's a little more of a hassle, since you're circumventing Eatontown to get to the Long Branch station to the south or the Red Bank Station to the north.  Still, solid accommodations and you can say you slept in the same town as NJ Horseplayer headquarters.

NJ Horseplayer's House:  Tongue in cheek, my kids rooms are available for $500 a night.  Includes breakfast and my free selections for Haskell Day, which'll only put you even deeper in debt.

Beach Hotel and Train

Generally speaking, these places are too close to my house for me to actually stay a night for a vacation, but here are some places I found that have rooms available, at least for Sunday night, where you're right in the hub of a beach town and with access to the train.

Long Branch:  Ocean Place is expensive, but right on the boardwalk.

Asbury Park: The Berkeley is right on the oceanfront and the revived Asbury is akin to Red Bank to the north in terms of great dining and nightlife and boasts the famous Stone Pony.

Belmar, Spring Lake and Point Pleasant are other shore towns to the south with hotels; I recommend scouring TripAdvisor.com for more details.

Airbnb might be an option worth exploring as well.  Already there are even a few people in Oceanport trying to fleece Haskell visitors over the Haskell Weekend.

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I hope you find this info helpful, and come back for my next post on NJ Horseplayer's favorite eateries in the area.

Del Mar Defense Begins on Thursday

On the heels of two awful zero-win performances in National Handicapping Championship qualifiers (July 5 Monmouth Park contest and this past Saturday at HorseTourneys.com), my confidence is not the best at about the midway point of the 2015 NHC season.

Sign up by Thursday for
Del Mar's free online contest

Nonetheless, as any horseplayer can attest, fortunes can reverse overnight, and so I begin my co-title defense of the Del Mar Online Handicapping Challenge, which begins this Thursday afternoon (with a race to be determined);  I finished 2nd in 2014 in harrowing fashion, securing my first berth to the NHC.

Before delving into tongue-in-cheek trash talking on my defense, I cannot help but, first, to think at this time of Lucy Nico, whose husband Steven ("scottsdad") took first-place in last year's tournament but tragically passed away a few days after a heart attack on Thanksgiving night and I dearly missed at the NHC in Las Vegas in January.  In that vein, I play this year in Steven's memory and extend heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Lucy and her kids during their healing process.

As there were nearly 4,000 players last season, I sense the secret is out about this tournament, but encourage newcomers to have some fun with this year's Del Mar contest, whether registered as "serious" players or not.

It's free to enter (deadline is Thursday; no sign-ups once the contest begins), and in fact players do not even need to be NHC Tour members to enter, or win.

The top two finishers win entry to the 2016 NHC in Las Vegas and $1,000 hotel and travel stipend.

The contest premise is simple -- pick winners and find prices.  

At least that's my aim again in 2015.

Del Mar selects one race per day during its 40-day meeting, which starts this Thursday and ends on Monday, September 7.

Each contest race is usually posted by 5 p.m. ET the day prior, and Del Mar provides free past performances as well.

I recommend registering, separately, for an account on CalRacing.com (free, as well), which offers access to live video and race replays; it's a great service and one whose model I wish all states would follow in order to grow the sport.  Cal Racing's mobile site works well, too.

Del Mar Online Handicapping Challenge mandates that contestants play their full $100 mythical (no real money changes hands) bankroll in at least 20 of the 40 contest races to qualify.  One can bet less than $100, but that would not count as one of your 20 qualifying wagers.

Unlike other contests in the win-place-show format, Del Mar allows players to bet more than one horse, meaning you could go $10 to win across the board in a 10-horse field if you wanted.  I would not advise it, but it's allowed.

As noted in last September's analysis of the Del Mar contest, I plan to again identify horses within a range of 5-to-1 and 15-to-1 (morning line), and will probably invest $100 to win each day.

Del Mar bettors LOVE to over-bet favorites, meaning the prospects are good for getting an "overlay" (final odds above the morning line) on an 8-1 horse you like as real-money wagerers push the 3-to-1 favorite in a deep field down to 4-to-5 at post-time.  Trust me, it happens.

Last year, I generally picked one horse per day and played $50 win-$50 place, which produced positive returns but not as much had I put my full $100 to win.  I'll likely go $100 win exclusively in 2015; it's fake money (but real stakes) after all.

If you've never played, give it a try.

I use this contest primarily to stay sharp and cross my figures for good fortune again.

It's a great daily exercise (Thursday through Sunday, at least) and a perfect opportunity for less-frequent players to spend some time analyzing a single race.

Leave a comment if you have any questions, and good luck!

I leave with some quick thoughts and comments:

• Use the free past performances and Cal Racing video to your advantage; as a commuter to NYC at times, I'd print the free PP's and use mobile video to study on the bus to find a long-shot that made some sense.
• Get your selections in by the contest site's published post time; you'll get shut out if the site shows 6:30 p.m. ET and the actual post (because of delays earlier in the card) is, say, 6:45 p.m.
• Avoid prohibitive favorites:  Not worth the risk (-$100) of, say, a $40 win, $30 place and $30 show wager on a horse that's 9-to-5 and will only produce minimal returns; rather, simply pass on that day's race if the field's short or you're that convinced the favorite will win (in which case I would argue you bet the full $100 on that horse). 
• Do NOT get discouraged if you go 0-for-4 and are -$400 at the end of week 1.  Even if a few players hit a 30-to-1 bomber (the cap on contest win payouts) and are at +$3,000 at week's end and you're tied in 3,000th-place, remember there is a LOT of contest remaining.  
• NHC Tour members...play seriously, as there are FAR more Tour points to be had this year, with the Tour shifting the points allocation from Top 30 to top 10 percentile.  Assuming the contest draws 3,750 players again, finishing 100th, for example, would yield more than 2,000 Tour points, by the Tour's calculator, unlike 2014 (zero). 
• The Del Mar Futurity is usually the final contest race.  Last year, American Pharoah romped at 3-to-1 to victory, and in 2013 California Chrome ran somewhat sluggish (I picked him in the Del Mar contest that year to no avail). 
• Be courteous, and do NOT hassle the people running the contest.  Remember, it's free, so if the leaderboard is not up to date 2 minutes after the race results are posted, do not fire off a bunch of email asking when the leaderboard will be updated.  
• Embrace the challenge and have fun.  I never imagined finishing in the Top 2 last year.  It was gut-wrenching for me toward the end, but the ride was fun as hell.  

Unsung Stars At Monmouth Park: Q&A with Racing Ambassador Liaison @MonmouthParkKid

The buzz surrounding Triple Crown winner American Pharoah's potential entry to the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on Sunday, August 2 has kept Monmouth Park in the racing headlines since the horse's dominant victory in the Belmont Stakes.

Reserved seats to the Haskell are already sold out (fortunately I bought mine last week), and it's safe to say the Haskell would break attendance records if Pharoah is entered, giving our home track much-needed stimulus and a glimpse at an all-time 3-year-old champion.

Although Saratoga remains in play according to Wednesday's Albany Times-Union, Pharoah's trainer Bob Baffert has saddled a record-high 7 Haskell winners and owner Ahmed Zayat lives in New Jersey and has expressed interest in running his horse at Monmouth Park.

Whether or not American Pharoah is Haskell bound, throughout the 2015 racing season there are a handful of individuals sharing their love for thoroughbred racing on select weekends (and, unofficially, by appointment) with Monmouth Park's visitors.

Monmouth Park's "Racing Ambassadors"

In its second year, the Ambassador program is a grassroots campaign of volunteers tasked with cultivating new thoroughbred racing fans.

I worked the grounds on Food Truck Saturday and during the Irish Festival, providing patrons interested in learning more about the sport an insider's view of the racing product, from watching horses get saddled and mounted in the paddock, to watching and discussing the race from the Winner's Circle, to instructing folks how to read a racing program and place wagers.

Being an Ambassador is my way of giving back for a few days a season to the sport that gives me much enjoyment, not to mention a great way to engage new fans and get people to recognize all of the effort that goes into the product and why a beautiful place like Monmouth Park is special.

Meet Mike Tacak

This year, the program is spearheaded by fellow racing enthusiast Mike Tacak, a 28-year-old architectural designer and project manager from Bridgewater, NJ, who stepped forward as liaison to track management at a time where the program was in limbo.  Mike goes the extra mile to give fans a great experience, even making it to Monmouth one afternoon where his car was rear-ended on the Garden State Parkway en route to his ambassador stint one Saturday.

Mike and the other ambassadors I have worked with (all younger and very well-informed, and including Brian Lecke and Kevin O'Keefe) are integral in introducing the younger generation to an industry that desperately needs it.

I caught up with Mike (@MonmouthParkKid) for his thoughts on the program and invite anyone planning a day at Monmouth Park to look for any Racing Ambassador in a Navy-collared, logo golf shift to learn more (or contact us in advance; info below), but especially Mike...fast a legend for giving out a $497 winner to some customers.  Read on.

NJ Horseplayer: How long have you been a horseplayer and when did you first get into the sport?

Mike Tacak:  I've been into horse racing since I was 14.  I lived 5 minutes away from Monmouth, but the funny thing is the first track I ever went to was Penn National.  My friend Marky and his father Big Rich used to get fireworks in Grantville (PA).  One year I went with them, and Big Rich is a longtime horseplayer, so he asked if we wanted to go watch the races.  I was so down to go.  Big Rich is my mentor.  He got me in the game and helped me out.  He even cashed a 19-1 future on American Pharoah. 

NJ Horseplayer: What is your most memorable on-track moment (e.g. best winning bet)? 

Volunteer Making a Difference
Mike Tacak, Monmouth Park's
Lead "Racing Ambassador"

Mike Tacak:  2013.  I played a $16 Pick 5 that went 1 x 1 x 4 x 4 x 2.  Got my two singles home and was live (going into the final leg) to $3,000 or $15,000.  Still remember to this day, I had the 3 and 6 (in the finale).  The 6 was the bigger price and they turn for home; neither in the top three, so I'm thinking I'm done. Then the 3 comes flying up to take the lead, and out of nowhere the 6 nails him on the wire.  It was a turf race with (Jose) Lezcano up and nailing (Joe) Bravo at the wire and it paid $15,000 and some change.

NJHorseplayer: How about your worst beat?

Mike Tacak:  My worst ever came at Santa Anita.  I'm alive in the Pick 4 and all are paying commas.  ("Commas" is parlance for a $1,000-plus win.)  I tossed the fave and went 5 deep in an 8-horse field.  Turning for home, I'm golden; the top 4 were my picks.  Then the fave comes storming home.  Well, my horse came out and won but got taken down (by racing stewards) in an inquiry.  If my horse stayed up it would have been an $8,500 ticket.  (Winners got $2,000 to the favorite). 

NJHorseplayer: What compelled you to join Monmouth Park's Racing Ambassador program?

Mike Tacak: I saw a Tweet last year and was like, "hell, that would be fun," especially since I took part in (fan education site) Horse Player Now chats for a few years and would like to attract younger people to the track.  So far the program has been good, but it can be better.  

NJHorseplayer: Any new Ambassador program initiatives in particular that you're hoping to roll out this year?

Mike Tacak:  Mr. (Brian) Skirka (Monmouth's marketing manager) gave me a chance (to run it), and this year I have a lot in store, starting with (us) getting on the live feed and also the TVG feed.  Also, I'm hoping to use a white-board to let people know what we are betting and suggested plays for all types of budgets.  I've got a few other things in the works too.  Stay tuned, and if you do attend (Monmouth) live, look out for one of the Ambassadors and we will be sure to make your time memorable and profitable.   

NJHorseplayer: Profitable?

Mike Tacak:  I've given out a bunch of winners so far, including a $497 dime super (superfecta, where bettors need to select the top 4 runners in order of finish) to a group of "newbies" about 20 years old.  All 5 of them hit.

The ticket was cheap, $3.60.  (After the race) they say "c'mon, Mike, did we win?" Then one girl goes "I think we won." Then she says, "I wonder how much...$10, $20?"  I said they had to wait until the payouts but promised it will be a nice amount, especially with a 9-1 (winner) on top of the super.

Then the prices flash...$497.  They all looked at me and say, "are you serious?!,"  with all 5 of them holding winning tickets.  I take (the one girl) over to the (automated betting) machine.  She drops it in and presses "finish," then looks at me and says a few words I can't say here, while the other 4 jump up and down like they won Mega Millions. Meanwhile, I didn't play the ticket, LOL.

NJ Horseplayer: And the story doesn't end there, does it?

Mike Tacak: Now, they message me on Facebook and always ask if I'm going and (which horses) I like and "can I help them."  Well, here's the best part.  The very next weekend they message me and say they're bringing a few friends.  I get (to Monmouth Park) in the picnic area where they sit and there's about 20 of them, so I hosted a little handicapping seminar.  Now here's the kicker.  The pressure is on since I won them a decent amount of money (the prior weekend) and, well, I lose one race and then lose again.  As I had other things to do, I wrote down my selections (for them) the rest of the day.  All of a sudden this girl comes running up and tries to give me $100 and I'm, like, "no, you keep it, what's this for?"  She says "you just gave us a $200 winner (trifecta) in the 6th race and we all played it."  So I go back to where they were and they are all pumped reading the program and asking questions.  Now I get a message every weekend about my picks and got a bunch of younger 20-something guys and girls hooked.

NJ Horseplayer: And there's more...

Mike Tacak: Last weekend I'm at the Meadowlands and all of a sudden someone taps me on the shoulder and it was one of the girls (from Monmouth).  I was surprised, so I hung out with them all night and helped them with harness racing too.  It is definitely one of the best racing moments as an Ambassador.

NJ Horseplayer: What is the value to Monmouth, or the industry itself, of volunteers pitching in to promote the sport?

Mike Tacak: The value to Monmouth is tremendous.  (The Racing Ambassadors) get nothing but great reviews and comments, and volunteering doesn't hurt (Monmouth Park's) pockets at all and the program is very, very valuable.

NJ Horseplayer: Your dedication's admirable, Mike.  You even fulfilled your commitment after a little fender-bender on the Parkway en route to the Food Truck Festival, yes?

Mike Tacak:  Yeah, I got rear-ended by someone texting (while driving).  I could have just called it a day and gone home, but I had a commitment to go to Monmouth Park for the Ambassador program, hosting a few VIPs in the owner's box.  I was contemplating going home but I couldn't.  I already made a promise to them that I would be there.  Maybe it's just my passion and love for the sport, but nothing can keep me away.

NJ Horseplayer: How has the fan feedback been toward the Racing Ambassador Program? 

Mike Tacak:  Amazing, honestly.  Nothing but rave reviews.  I also built some friendships with a lot of people, some in their 20's all the way up to their 60's.  For example, there is an older lady and husband that go (to Monmouth).  He didn't care to give a listen, but she makes (picking winners) a competition between them. 

Her favorite bet is the 3-horse exacta box.  So, just recently, her husband comes over and asks what I'm teaching her and "can you teach me the same?"  So, obviously, she has been doing a lot better then him.  It's really cool how everyone has their own preference.  Some just want me to pick bets for them, but when that happens I turn the table on them and keep nudging them to pick a horse or 2 and I'll give them 1 and play a exacta or trifecta box.  Some like to bet to win, but I've noticed a lot of newbies like the trifecta.

NJ Horseplayer: What can Monmouth Park do to advance your vision of the Ambassador program?

Mike Tacak:  My vision is someday to be on payroll, LOL.  But I'd like it to really take off and have us their every live racing day.  I'd like to be more visible and have a nice tent out front with a TV and lounge area.  I'd like for Monmouth to believe in us and our value and give us some more things to promote.  I'd like to hold handicapping seminars during a live race.  We have a lot to offer, but we get shut down by the track a lot.  I would like to go on the live feed between every race and promote it...also have a newbie come on the live feed and give a pick out and tell the track how good the ambassador program actually is.  I have many ideas and I'll tell you one thing...I'm gonna put them in action.  I'll fund out of my own pocket.  I just believe this program is really valuable and the track is only using us at 50% and there is a whole lot more we can do.  Getting a home base is key so that (visitors) actually know where to go if they need help, but keep an eye out for us Ambassadors and we will help you out and make your visit to the Shore's Greatest Stretch a memorable one and you will be wanting to come back daily for live racing. 

NJ Horseplayer: Thanks, Mike, and keep up the great work!

Mike Tacak:  Thanks for the interest in me and what I do for the program.  If anyone has questions/comments/concerns, please email me at @horseplayer01@gmail.com and I will be glad to help you out.  Once again, thanks, and have a great day and good luck wagering! 

***

More 4-1-1 on Mike Tacak:

• Twitter handle: @MonmouthParkKid
• Favorite Track(s): Monmouth Park, Meadowlands, Saratoga
• Favorite Wager(s): Pick 4, Pick 5, $0.10 superfecta, trifecta key (1 horse on top of 3)
• Another Memorable Score:  $3,280 ($328 x 10) payout for a 50-cent Pick 4 ticket from Hollywood Park. "I had just won about $40 on a 10-cent superfecta at the old Meadowlands and put what I won into the Pick 4 at Hollywood.  So I keep looking at the past performances and get a good, strong opinion and went 2 x 1 x 2 x 2 for a 50-cent (base) play and punched it 5 times, and then 5 more times.  All I remember was (jockey, now-retired) Garrett Gomez winning by daylight to cash my Pick 4."
• Specialty as a Racing Ambassador:  "Teaching them how to read the program and how to break it down easier, and trying to come up with very cheap plays than can (produce) a decent amount of money.  No one wants to bet $2 to win $5.80.  As I stated earlier, I helped a group win $497 and then again about $200.  Also a bunch of smaller wins in the $30-$60 range.

The Company You Keep

Just about everyone has given their two cents on American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes.

The "experts" have already spent three weeks dissecting Pharoah's past efforts, pedigree and chances, but the one thing I have yet to find is an analysis of the company that Saturday's 8 horses have kept in the lead-up to a mile and a half on "the Big Sandy" and how that could play into handicapping, and so I delved a little deeper to conclude that, yes, American Pharoah will become the first Triple Crown winner in nearly 40 years.

Readers will note, based on my front-page heading, that I generally look for long-shot value.

Pharoah beat better

I just do not see it in the 2015 Belmont Stakes.

One can talk about pace, track conditions and so forth until blue in the face, but in the end my position is that Pharoah is simply the highest-quality horse in the field that, perhaps, is simply not that great a quality by historical standards.  Only time will tell.

That said, I will keep in all likelihood to small-ante multi-race "exotics" and perhaps a straight trifecta or exacta, in addition to using Pharoah as my pick in Saturday's NHC qualifying tournament at HorseTourneys.com.

In my breakdown, I took a look at each runner's "company lines" for each 3-year-old race in 2015, attempting to evaluate the strength of Saturday's field with the "next out" performances of horses in common races earlier this year.  It may seem unscientific, but in trying to find some "underneath" horses for exacta, trifecta and superfecta, I needed to ascertain whether 20-1 Keen Ice (#7), for instance, is a better play than 12-1 Madefromlucky (#3), which I believe to be the case.

Rather than give picks as a public handicapper would, I will give my 1-8 rating of the field:

• #5, American Pharoah (3-5): I toss the so-so "speed figures" and focus instead on the ease with which he has won 6 of his last 7 races, noting too that the late rally in the Kentucky Derby proved Pharoah can stalk a bit and deal with slow fractions.  I anticipate him sitting second into the final turn and outlasting the others to the wire.  If he gets beat, it'll be late...and brutal.
• #6, Frosted (5-1): I thought about him again for tomorrow after Kentucky Derby win and exacta bets atop Pharoah (and Carpe Diem), but I think he's distant second-best in the Belmont who gets a strong-handed rider who could coax Frosted enough to get a share.  The Wood field that Frosted beat was sub-par, with only 1 horse entered next-out (Tiz Shea D was 4th in the Grade 2 Peter Pan); but Frosted in the Derby improved over 3 horses who beat him in the Fountain of Youth: Itsaknockout, Upstart and Frammento, so I give a slight edge.
• #7, Keen Ice (20-1): I generally ignore Kent Desormeaux horses on dirt, since I think his patience is not conducive to closer-type horses, but Ice's 7th-place Derby finish was sneaky good and he exits a Holy Bull Stakes in January at Gulfstream where 3 of the 9 runners won stakes races (Upstart - Florida Derby, Frosted - Wood Memorial, Bluegrass Singer - PARX Derby) and Frammento participated.  Ice's 3rd- and 4th-place finishes in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby were against International Star, a legit one who scratched from the Derby.
• #4, Frammento (30-1): This is where I think the field gets really bad.  I'll give a pass for all of the bumping he took in the Kentucky Derby and figure he'll maybe sit midpack, perhaps holding on for a piece of the purse.  I just think he's a cut below the top 3, but the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes at least had four other Derby runners and a fifth horse, Classy Class, who came back to win an allowance next out and is in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens on Saturday.
• #8, Materiality (6-1): I am not as enamored with his Derby effort as others and anticipate he will be the rabbit for the rest before fading into the stretch.  In line with what I have seen others write, I think Pletcher picks easy spots, as borne out in Materiality's company lines.  In Materiality's 3 wins, only 2 horses boast wins since -- at the optional claiming ranks.
• #3, Madefromlucky (12-1): In my opinion, he would have lost the Peter Pan if not for a poor ride from Shaun Bridgmohan on runner-up Conquest Curlinate.  Two wins against only 4 other horses, including a $75,000 optional claimer at Gulfstream, have me passing on this one.
• #1, Mubtaahij (10-1): The gaudy $1.5 million of lifetime winnings is inflated by big-money stakes in Dubai, and the Derby effort was nothing to write home about.  I might have given this one a break, having shipped from Dubai just 6 weeks prior to the Derby and perhaps jet-lagged, but Mubtaahij beat up on a South American horse (Ajwad) in his prior two, while the other rival (Maftool) finished 14th in his next out in a Grade 1 in Longchamp.  Pass.
• #2, Tale of Verve (15-1): Maybe Gary Stevens pulls off a shocker as he did in the Preakness two years ago, but for my money, Tale of Verve's second-place in the Preakness (7-plus lengths behind Pharoah) was smoke and mirrors.  Verve passed a bunch of tiring Derby horses in mud and still has yet to win outside the maiden level.  Two fast works do not obscure the fact that the five horses Verve beat in his maiden breaker are 0-for-30 lifetime.  Pass.

If anyone wants the full spreadsheet of each horse's company lines for 2015, please include your email address in the comment field and I'll have no problem sharing.