Ack Ack S. (G3)
8F on dirt (September 30)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: 21 stakes at one mile on dirt at Churchill Downs
Date Range: January 1, 2013 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Last Late Pace
Factor Stats: 23 contenders, 7 winners (30%, $31.40 flat win bet profit, 168% ROI) 10 win/place (43%, $6.00 place bet profit, 114% ROI)

The Breeders' Cup prep season begins in earnest this weekend with big days at Belmont Park and Santa Anita. The Churchill Downs card also features multiple stakes, including the Ack Ack S. (G3) that serves as the midwest prep for the BC Dirt Mile. Last Late Pace has proven to be a good indicator of success in the mile dirt stakes at Churchill Downs (which are at one turn). The seven winners in this sample have gone off at average odds of nearly 4-1.

Want to look for your own Angles?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
Click to subscribe to Betmix

Natalma Stakes (G1) & Summer Stakes (G2)
8F on turf (September 17)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: 8 stakes for two-year-olds at 8F on turf
Date Range: January 1, 2013 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Last Late Pace
Factor Stats: 9 contenders, 4 winners (44%), $50.30 flat win bet profit (379 ROI%) and $15.90 flat place bet profit & $8.90 flat show bet profit.

The creation of the Breeders' Cup two-year-old turf races several years ago put a couple of late summer stakes at Woodbine front and center - the Natalma Stakes and the Summer Stakes. Using the Betmix Angler online handicapping software we find that Last Late Pace has been a very profitable approach to playing this racetype at the Toronto track. This Angle has pointed to the last three Summer winners (average win payout of $16.86) and to Victory to Victory, heroine of last year's Natalma at a $17.70 win mutuel.

Want to look for your own Angles?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
Click to subscribe to Betmix

Q: What is Mixbot and how does it work?

A: MixBot handicaps previous similar races, trying to find a mix that would have selected the winner in those races, and then applies that mix to the current race you are handicapping. The MixBot results are found in the handicapping overview section and are categorized by what the winner in previous races paid.

Watch this video for more information on how MixBot works, and how you can use it to win more races:

Q: Where can I find out more information about what is happening at the tracks I play?

A: In addition to all of the horse specific handicapping data we compile at Betmix, we maintain data about each race track. You can find some of that information in the Handicapping Journal, and more detailed stats about each racetrack and race type on any individual race page.

Looking at today’s free race, you will see a button labelled Track Report. When you click that you get detailed information about post and payouts for different race types.

Before handicapping a race its helpful to click on that button and get some idea of how often favorites are winning the type of race you are getting ready to play.

Sharp Angle - Sunday, September 3
Del Mar Derby (G2)
9 furlongs on turf
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: 14 stakes for 3YOs at 9 furlongs on turf at Del Mar
Date Range: January 1, 2013 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Last E1 Pace
Factor Stats: 18 contenders, 5 winners (37%, $39.80 flat win bet profit, 210 ROI% and a $5.60 flat place profit)

The three-year-old male turfers return to the spotlight at Del Mar on Sunday in the Del Mar Derby. We isolated the Last E1 Pace factor for 9-furlong turf stakes a few weeks ago for the Del Mar Oaks and narrowly missed hitting that one after Beau Recall fell a nose shy at nearly 6-1. This factor has also highlighted 2015 Del Mar Derby hero Om, who brought bettors peace with a $15 win mutuel.

Results: Bowies Hero 3rd at $3.40-1

Want to look for your own Angles?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
Click to subscribe to Betmix

Q: Can I make BirdDog open up using the last 100 races as the default?

A: Yes!  We recently made some changes to BirdDog that allow you to pick the number of past races that are used to compile the statistics for each of the handicapping factors.  You can choose to use the last 200, 100, 40, 20 or 10 most recent races.  By default BirdDog will open up a hew race using the last 40 races since that is most similar to what we showed in the past. If you want to change your default race number all you have to do is click on the options button then select the number of races you want, then click save. After that every race you open will use that number as the default setting.

Step 1: Click on the options button in BirdDog

Step 2: Pick the number of races you want as the default, then click save.

Have a question about the Betmix handicapping software? Email Dave - dave@betmix.com

Travers Stakes
10F on dirt (August 26)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: 9 Grade 1's for three-year-olds at 10F on dirt
Date Range: January 1, 2013 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Last Late Pace
Factor Stats: 9 contenders, 3 winners (33%, $31.60 flat win bet profit, 275 ROI% & $5.30 flat place bet profit)

It makes intuitive sense that late runners should excel at the American classic distance of a mile and a quarter. One of the many advantages of using handicapping software like Betmix is the ability to move theory into reality. We know by using Betmix Angler that two of the last four Travers winners (and a recent Alabama Stakes winner) have ranked first in Last Late Pace. Both of the Travers winners paid double digits and would later be named Eclipse Champions - Will Take Charge the $21.20 winner in 2013 and Arrogate who paid $25.40 last year, a payout that looks especially absurd with the benefit of hindsight.

Results: Good Samaritan 5th at $3.85-1

Want to look for your own Angles?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
Click to subscribe to Betmix

Albany Stakes
9F on dirt (August 25)
Horse Racing Data Analyzed: 14 (non-graded) stakes for three-year-olds at 9F on dirt
Date Range: January 1, 2013 - Present
Sharp Angle: Ranked 1st in Last E2 Pace
Factor Stats: 15 contenders, 6 winners (40%, $11.80 flat win bet profit, 139 ROI%)

A day before they try to sort out the open three-year-old male division in the Travers Stakes, the New York-bred sophomores square off in the Albany Stakes. Including the race named for New York's capital, there have been 14 main track non-graded stakes for three-year-olds at The Spa since 2013. Last E2 Pace has pointed to the winners of six of those contests including recent Albany winners So Lonesome ($20.80) and Hit It Once More ($3.90).

Results: D'yer Mak'er 5th at 37.25-1

Want to look for your own Angles?
Click for the Betmix Angler tutorial
Click to subscribe to Betmix