Totally excited to announce that I’m playing my first official tournament this weekend at Surfside in Del Mar!

Even if we’re playing the Hollywood races instead of my home tracks back east, I still think I can handle all y’all more seasoned tourney veterans…

Here are the details – would love to have you join the fun! Surfside’s July Tournament

Surfside Race Place at Del Mar

Handicapping Tournament XI

July 10th & 11th, 2010

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. To Enter: Entry forms may be obtained at the Surfside Race Place (SSRP) Gift Shop or on our website, www.surfsideraceplace.com. Entries are accepted Wednesday through Sunday at 858-755-1167 ext 1211, in person at our Gift Shop, via mail which will be returned if space is no longer available, or via E-mail ecanfield@sdfair.com. Faxed entries will not be accepted. Entries are first come, first served and are only valid with payment. The contest entry fee is $200. Entries are limited to 3 per person and only 200 total entries per tournament. Contestants must be 21 years of age or older. All contestants must provide valid photo identification for the duration of the contest. All contestants must accept and abide by all contest rules. No entry refunds will be given.

2. Wagering Format: Each contestant will make 16 individual, mythical, $20 win and place wagers on the last 8 races at Hollywood Park each day. Only one horse may be selected per race, and each wager must be for $20 win, and $20 place. Each $20 win and $20 place wager is considered one bet and will count as one of the 8 wagers for the day or one of the 16 wagers for the weekend. Contestants must wager on win-place for each selection. No other bet type will be accepted. A 1st selection and an alternate selection in each contest race must be made. If the 1st selection is scratched for any reason, then the alternate selection will become the contest selection for that race. In the event that both the 1st selection and the alternate selection are both scratched, then the actual starting favorite will automatically be the new contest selection. All bet slips must be filled out with ink. Contestants must place all wagers personally. No person shall directly or indirectly act as an intermediary, transmitter, or agent in placing wagers for the contestant. Each contestant is responsible for their own selections. All bets must be submitted to a contest representative prior to post time of each contest race, which will then be sent to the Official Contest Center for processing.

3. Scoring: Contestant points will be credited at a maximum of $42 to win and $22 to place on a $2 mutuel wager. Example: Contestant places a win and place on a horse that pays $139 to win and $58 to place. Contestant receives 420 points for the win wager and 220 points for the place wager. The total points awarded for the win and place wager for this contestant is 640 points. This is one wager of 16 total wagers for the weekend. Any unused wagers at the end of the day will count as zero points and will not be credited, refunded or carried over.

4. Prizes: The top 3 finishers overall in the two day tournament that have not already qualified will win a berth in the Finals of the DRF/NTRA Championship in January 2011 representing Team Surfside, and transportation coach flight within the continental U.S. and lodging, excluding incidentals.

$20,000* in prizes at Surfside!

• 1st Place $10,000
• 2nd Place $4,000
• 3rd Place $2,000
• 4th Place $1,000
• 5th Place $500
• 6th – 15th Place $200 each
• Points winner for the 2nd Day $500

All prize winners are responsible for all taxes that may apply.

* Based on 200 entries. If the gross entries are below 200, 1st – 5th prize money will be reduced. Prize money for 6th-15th & the 2nd day point’s winner will remain fixed. Therefore, a total amount of 22,500 will be taken out for NTRA, SSRP, and prizes for places 6th – 15th and the 2nd day point’s winner. If a tie exists for any position, the prize money will be split equally between the tied contestants. (Example: If there is a tie for 1st place, the 1st and 2nd prize money will be combined at $14,000 and split to $7,000 each with no 2nd place named.) All winnings will be available after the contest becomes official and is posted, and will be paid in betting vouchers.

Brisnet.com prizes: Santa Anita Track Stats book for each contestant.

1st – 3rd

• American Produce Record CD-ROM – $325 value
• Sire Stats book – $40.00 value
• Southern California Track Stats Book – $25 value

4th – 5th

• Maiden Stat CD-ROM – $100.00 value
• Sire Stats Book – $40.00 value

6th – 10th

• Maiden Stat CD-ROM – $100 value

5. NTRA Finals Prizes: The top 3 finishers from each of the four 2010 Surfside contests will attend the National Championship in January 2011, unless they have already qualified from another tournament. In the event they cannot represent Team Surfside for whatever reason, we will qualify Las Vegas participants from SSRP in descending order of finish. For example, if the 2nd and 3rd place finishers have already qualified, we will send the 1st, 4th and 5th place finishers from the SSRP tournament. The NHC Final Grand Prize winner is expected to receive $500,000 first prize and will be recognized as the Handicapper of the Year at the 2011 Eclipse Awards dinner; where a grand total of $1,000,000 in prizes will be awarded.

6. Taxes: All prize winning Contestants are responsible for all federal and state taxes. All prize winners must submit a W-9 pursuant to federal law. A 1099-misc will be sent at the end of the current tax year by Surfside 22nd DAA. All monies earned over $1,500.00 (fifteen hundred) per calendar year (including prize winnings) in the State of California by non-residents are subject to 7% withholding from the gross dollar amount. This dollar amount will be deducted from you prize winnings and submitted to the CA Franchise Tax Board on your behalf. The State of California does not recognize international tax treaties to exempt withholding from foreign persons. For additional information, go to www.ftb.ca.gov and www.irs.gov.

7. Event Cancellation: In the event of any technical or operational difficulties, SSRP reserves the right to change or cancel the Handicapping Tournament without any further liability or claim for damages of any kind. The contest would be cancelled, and entries returned (if necessary).

8. Judging and Disputes: The management of SSRP reserves the right to interpret all questions and conditions in regard to this event, without claim for damages or recourse of any kind. The management of SSRP will make the final decisions and will decide all questions and definitions not covered explicitly in these rules.

9. Eligibility: The following are ineligible to participate: employees of National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), SSRP, and 22nd D.A.A., vendors, contractors, Mutuel employees, SCOTWINC. as well as members of the immediate families of any of the foregoing, and patrons not in good standing with SSRP.

10. Promotional Photos: SSRP reserves the right to use the contestant’s photo and name for promotional and advertising purposes and shall be SSRP’s sole and exclusive property for any and all purposes and may be exhibited without limit or liability.

Forget FourSquare, it’s time to crown Mayor of RacingVille. No, this isn’t some newfangled game on Facebook … it’s the inevitable mid-June debate over Horse of the Year.

I bookmark this date in iCal because it’s the perfect stone-cold trifecta of timing: we’re just done with the Triple Crown and about to gear up for the summer series of stakes action, yet it’s still too early to be looking at Breeders’ Cup. Recent years have meant the mix is a combination of the Derby and Belmont winners, plus whatever lingers in the handicap division, and one overseas horse who deserves honorable mention.

This year, however… 3 Triple Crown races produced 3 very different winners, the Euro standout is still Goldikova, and the handicap division is exactly the opposite of its usually-similar-to Justin Bieber’s post-hacking follower count: more than 1!

Let’s take a look at my Top Ten ballot (chronologically speaking)…

1. Kentucky Oaks: Blind Luck … 6/5 Oaks favorite didn’t disappoint with her whisker win; in her next out, the gutty grinder failed to close into fractions only a snail could be proud of and flattened to finish third

2. Turf Classic: General Quarters … looking the fittest of his career, the grey took a liking to the soggy lawn in his first try over it, beating a solid field in the process; put back to dirt in his next start, he finished a decent third and is being pointed to the Arlington Million against the world’s best grass runners

3. Kentucky Derby: Super Saver … Calvin at Churchill is deadly and I’ve learned to never knock a Derby winner, but he got lucky with the traffic trouble of others and a crawling final fraction that was difficult to close into; staggered down the lane at Pimlico in his next start and is currently resting in a WinStar paddock

4. Preakness: Lookin At Lucky … (see above on Derby traffic troubles) hard charging horse was forced into closing up the rail for the better part of the year, but was guided down the center of the track this time and got the job done

5. Met Mile: Quality Road … yes his wins are impressive both to the eye and the stopwatch, but he gets everything his way every time and now the fear is few will want to face him (btw, I don’t fault him for freaking out pre-Breeders’ Cup Classic last year – you would too if you saw Zenyatta in the gate next to you)

6. Honeymoon Hcp: Evening Jewel … wins the Ashland on the Poly, then is whiskered out of the Oaks victory on dirt, then comes back to win this photo on grass – what can’t she do?

7. Belmont Stakes: Drosselmeyer … admittedly, I’ve been drinking the Haterade since that January Gulfstream Park showdown with Pulsion never happened and he was still eligible for a non-winners of two allowance at Belmont post time (see Jazil’s victory for similar sentiments), but this was a beautiful victory – going five wide at the turn and charging home – and now he’s a G1 winner! Eventual goal: Travers

8. Fleur de Lis: Rachel Alexandra … you can’t fault a 10 length victory and she didn’t face the world’s worst competition, though it might prove to be just a step up from her ’09 Oaks field; she’d be in contention regardless because that seems to be the rule for reigning HoY’s, but her status was beginning to be questionable after two runner-up finishes to start the year – I’m from the camp that says you don’t have to win every start to be a stellar racehorse, but she didn’t look like her old self there for a bit – can she keep it up?

9. Stephen Foster: Blame … horse for the course didn’t disappoint with an outside posted / wide tripped win over a solid field and is now 6-of his last-7; look for him in New York this summer

10. Californian: Rail Trip … consistent contender has been on fire so far this year “avenging losses” as trainer Ron Ellis has said they’re out to do

Zenyatta … three G1′s so far this year and a record 17th straight career victories mean she doesn’t need a number to be on the ballot; like two years ago, didn’t seem to be the same horse after Oaklawn jaunt, but she’s superequine and knows exactly where the wire is every time

AEs: Battle Plan, Karelian, Musket Man, Gio Ponti, First Dude, Ice Box, a random Bill Mott maiden (sorry but the barn’s hot), the usual Pletcher parade, and Whitney-bound now-Lukas-charge ’09 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.

If voting ended today, I’d be pressing submit on Zenyatta without second thought.

It’s not a girl thing. It’s not a SoCal thing. It’s a Who Else Has 2 2010 G1 Victories and Is Racing’s Best Ambassador thing.

If – like the Associated Press post-season college football poll voting – we were to take the Mayor of RacingVille balloting process electronic, who do you choose?

Check out my picks and plays for the massive $930,495 post-Belmont Belmont Park carryover available for download at Today’s Racing Digest. Or for just $5 more, you can get full card analysis for Hollywood Park’s Wednesday card too at RacingWithBruno!

If you’re looking for a few free plays on the Belmont card for Wednesday…

$.10 Superfecta Box | Race 5 | 3:08 pm ET / 12:08 pm PT
1, 2, 5, 6
for $2.40

$5 Exacta Box | Race 6 | 3:40 pm ET / 12:40 pm PT
3, 6
for $10

$5 Exacta Box | Race 8 | 4:45 pm ET / 1:45 pm PT
2, 4, 5
for $30

Just because there isn’t a Triple Crown on the line doesn’t mean the racing doesn’t rock on Saturday! I think there is definite value to be had in two of the Belmont Pick 4′s plus the (carryover’d and guarantee’d) Pick 6. Check out my picks and plays available for download at Today’s Racing Digest

As a bonus, RacingWithBruno is offering my tickets plus full card Hollywood (27 races total) for $19.95 … click here for more info

Here’s what I played…

Belmont Park for $15 total

Early Pick 4  |  Races 2, 3, 4, 5 (12:07 pm ET /  9:07 am PT)

All Stakes Pick 6  |  Races 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (2:34 pm ET / 11:34 am PT)

Late Pick 4  |  Races 10, 11, 12, 13 (5:36 pm ET /  2:36 pm PT)

For $9 each

Churchill Downs … Daily Double  |  Races 9 & 10 (4:59 pm ET / 1:59 pm PT)

Monmouth Park … Daily Double  |  Races 10 & 11 (5:20 pm ET / 2:20 pm PT)

Single of the day: Proud Zoe in the 8th at Monmouth (if I only had $45k to claim her myself!)

To get ready for what will be a busy handicapping Saturday, my picks and plays for Friday are all available free at Today’s Racing Digest.

Here’s what’s available for download:

BELMONT PARK
Pick 3  |  Races 4, 5, 6 (2:36 pm ET / 11:36 am PT)
Trifecta  | Race 10 (5:49 pm ET / 2:49 pm PT)

CHURCHILL DOWNS
Late Double  |  Races 10 & 11 (7:24 pm ET / 4:24 pm PT)

MONMOUTH PARK
Daily Double  |  Races 7 & 8 (3:50 pm ET / 12:50 pm PT)

WOODBINE
Late Double  |  Races 8 & 9 (4:24 pm ET / 1:24 pm PT)

Another Monday meant another work from the SuperMare! This time, though, something was funky at the end – I’d love to know your thoughts…

Check out Blind Luck’s work at Hollywood Park on May 26th…

Coming off of a Saturday that saw us hit the $983.60 Pick 3 at Churchill on the free ticket…

Picks and plays downloads for Sunday can be found on my page at Today’s Racing Digest

I played…

BELMONT PARK‘s PICK 4 | Races 7, 8, 9, 10 (4:12 pm ET / 1:12 pm PT)
CHURCHILL DOWNS‘ PICK 4 | Races 7, 8, 9, 10 (3:57 pm ET / 12:57 pm PT)
MONMOUTH PARK‘s PICK 3 | Races 8, 9, 10 (4:20 pm ET / 1:20 pm PT) ***free ticket***

The ultimate California gurl…

Picks and plays for Saturday can be found on my page at Today’s Racing Digest

I played…

BELMONT PARK‘s PICK 4 | Races 7 – 10 (4:12 pm ET / 1:12 pm PT)
CHURCHILL DOWNS‘ PICK 3 | Races 8 – 10 (4:29 pm ET / 1:29 pm PT) *** free ticket ***
MONMOUTH PARK‘s PICK 5 | Races 6 – 10 (3:20 pm ET / 12:20 pm PT)

Best Bet of the Day: MTH 9 / Lamplighter Stks … 4-Fantastico Roberto … looking to turn the tables on Lethal Combination after a wide trip barely-a-beat last out; gets blinks for his fourth start and fourth track in the US and so far he’s been 4-3-2 and that means a win this time out, right?