7 key horses to playing DerbyWars’ $10,000 Saturday contest
On Saturday, there is an important $10,000 DerbyWars contest still taking entries. The game type is bullet, which means players make a mythical $2 Win, Place and Show bet on one horse per race.
Expect this specific contest to feature the last four races at Belmont Park, including the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3), along with select races from Monmouth Park and Woodbine.
To give some background on my own experience with DerbyWars, I've played since 2014. Of course, putting up money and winning was great. But the most entertaining part came when taking the lead and using the chat room to call out picks, knowing the rest of the players could not make up ground choosing the same horses. It's been a blast.
In any case, the bullet format is one that focuses on value. Here are a handful of interesting Belmont runners on which to focus Saturday:
Belmont Race 7 – Adorable Song
Assuming the race stays on turf, this might be an interesting longshot to consider. She chased a fast pace last fall on this track, but other than that, the trainer is hot with horses coming off 170-284 day layoffs winning at 21 percent. That number should eliminate any worries about the break. In a DerbyWars contest, it only takes one longshot to make a giant move, even when Win, Place and Show payoffs are capped.
Belmont Race 7 (Off turf selection) – Peril
If the race is off turf, then give Peril a look. She is a half sister to Governor Malibu, which makes her a candidate to handle the off going.
Belmont Race 8 – Lucky Town
TimeformUS Pace Projector believes he will lead the field through a slow
pace, and Javier Castellano is good at taking advantage of paceless scenarios. The selection is as simple as that. Plus, the shorter distance might help
this horse last longer than last time.
Belmont Race 8 (Wet dirt selection) – Javelin
Different track conditions call for different selections. On a sloppy
racetrack, the closer Javelin deserves a look as he won by seven lengths over
mud in February. Receiving enough pace is a question mark, but in this format
there is a payoff for reaching third. Taking a shot might be worth
it.
Belmont Race 9 – Untamed Domain
Analyze It is the best horse in the race, but this contest pays for third or higher so it is wise to choose Untamed Domain. If Analyze It does not feel like running for any reason, this closer will be coming late. If Analyze It dominates, then you can still be rewarded by the higher-priced Untamed Domain.
Belmont Race 10 – Performance Bonus
Unlike most of the picks above, this one is based mainly on the trainer statistics. According to TimeformUS, John Servis is currently winning at a 23 percent clip at Belmont Park. The trainer/jockey combo of Servis and Paco Lopez hits at 21 percent. As for the horse, he is a new gelding and might improve. Some of his speed figures under Chad Brown would win against this field.
Belmont Race 10 (Off turf selection) –
Got Even
This 9-year-old warrior loves a wet track, as his 6-3-1-0 record
indicates. He was claimed off Jerry Hollendorfer at Oaklawn, but the new
trainer is competent enough and hits at a 22-percent clip overall.
Final Advice
For those lucky enough to be in the lead or near the top, demanding value in selections is less important. Just find a way to retain position.
As someone who has played DerbyWars many times, it is easier to stay on top than mount a comeback from behind. Players start to change strategy when behind, choosing longshots they never before considered. It usually does not work. Starting strong in this game is key.