Toga Party III: Return of the Mad Capper

Tweet Don't you hate serial movies like Friday the 13th Part 42: Jason's bad beat? They usually have silly names and none can actually stack up to the original and the best actors have been replaced three times over (sweep the leg, Sensei). Well if you've followed this blog there are two annual events that I unveil: 1) the Derby spreadsheet and 2) the annual Toga Party contest. After a successful inaugural contest in 2008, last year we toked up a new and improved Part Deux with 15 different prognostications required. The 2009 winner (yours truly) hit 6 of 15, but deferred the crown to Saratoga Spa who took home a copy of Bill Heller's Graveyard of Champions for top honors. We moved the participation up a notch last year to 15 hearty souls and I'm hoping to move the needle up once again this year. So don't be afraid to participate as we lift our sheet for Toga Party III.

Rules: I've broken it down to 5 meet questions, 5 race or raceday specific questions and 5 winners of major stake races for this year's Saratoga meeting. 1 point per correct answer. Stakes race winner selections are not due until midnight on the Friday before the race. I will have the spreadsheet up and running on the right margin before opening day. Remember there's no Price is Right rules in effect (you can go over - it's closest to the correct number). Either email me: budmanbflo[at]hotmail.com your selections for the first 10 items only and the tiebreaker or leave them in the comment section by next Thursday at midnight (opening day eve) with your email address (if I don't already have it).

So here goes (open to all, we don't discriminate here in Space Land):

Meet questions
1) Leading Trainer
2) # of Wins - Leading Trainer
3) Leading Jockey (wins)
4) # of Wins - Leading Jockey
5) Total turf races for entire meet

Race/Raceday questions
6) Opening day attendance
7) Travers day attendance
8) Wins by #8 horse on 8/8/2010
9) $2 Trifecta payout on the Travers
10) $2 Exacta payout on the Woodward

Stake Race Winners - Do not send these to me now (due Friday midnight B4 the race)
11) Jim Dandy winner
12) Whitney winner
13) Alabama winner
14) Travers winner
15) King's Bishop winner

Tie-breaker
XX) Which jockey will top the jockey earnings for the meet?

Grand Prize: 2 Tickets to Bills game in December (just kidding)
Real Grand Prize: Choice of Handicapping Book currently in print (not kidding)

Defending Champs:
Toga I: Foolish Pleasure (2008) Runnerup: Green But Game
Toga II: EquiSpace (2009); Runnerup: Saratoga Spa
Toga III: Your Name Here

Are you feeling it?