[tfm]

While there may be no rules in the mind of some, as we bet we develop methods of play based on experience. For example, I find myself playing longshots that seem to want to run 2nd (more often than than win). I have two possible ways of tackling this:

1) bet win and place --- I tried this for a while but found that I lost value in the long run

2) bet the horse to win and save with the horse 2nd in an exacta -- either under a horse I also like or, more often than not, under the favorite.

For example, today at TP, Sir Allahad, in race 5, was on my watch list. The horse was stretching from a sprint to a route but was 15:1 and well worth a bet. So, I bet to win and an exacta under the strong favorite (Maker's horse). $2 win and place gets me back $12.60 (for place). $2 win and $2 exacta gets me back $62.40. Not bad, considering the chalk was 8:5.

I find there's incredible value when you're able to narrow down the contenders.

In the cases where my opinion of the long shot (or otherwise) is very strong, and I have an opinion on another horse, I bet the long shot to win and box the exacta.