Quest for the Crown - SO5

[EagleFan]

With my Starters Orders 4 game dynasty blown up as I had no idea what I was doing yet I have been dabbling with Starters Orders 5 and will try this again.

It's my quest to eventually own a Triple Crown winner (lofty goals).


Setup
Normal Mode
Trainer Game
Starting Funds - $170,000
Starting Date - Saturday, Jaunuary 1, 2012

[EagleFan]

Starting Stable

Nashaab - 2 year old Filly; 528 kg; bred by a Grade 3 winner; prefers a slower track; average best distance 6f

Vizulize - 3 year old Filly; 510 kg; prefers a good track; average best distance 5f

Mika - 4 year old Stallion; 527 kg; bred by a Grade 2 winner; prefers a good track; average best distance 1m1f

[EagleFan]

January 1, 2012

Purchased Gallop Rails and Hired a Gardner for FOFC Stables. Our Silks are Yellow and Red.

[EagleFan]

January 2, 2012

Entered Mika into a January 11, 2012 race at Delware Park. A 1m2f 0-70 Handicap on Dirt. Booked B Lezcano as the jockey for the race. I think he is in a favorable field, I just hope that extra furlong doesn't give him trouble.

Entered Vizulize into a January 19, 2012 race at Finger Lakes. A 5f Maiden for 3 year olds. Booked F Smith as the jockey for the race. She may be in over her head but I want to see how she runs against this mixed level of competition.

Still trying to get Nashaab into racing shape before putting her on a racecard.

[EagleFan]

January 7, 2012

Entered Nashaab into a January 25, 2012 race at Hollywood Park. A 5f Maiden for 2 year olds. I booked T Talamo as the jockey for the race. A complete unknown but she is looking close to race shape in training and should be ready by then.

[EagleFan]

January 10, 2012

Nashaab is not looking well. Had her diagnosed and she will be down for about 2 weeks. I will wait to pull her from the race to see how the next week goes with her recovery.

[EagleFan]

January 11, 2012

The big day, the first race for a horse from FOFC Stables.

We are the 5th race at Deleware Park. Mika is a 14:1 shot, not the longest odds in the race but close to it. That's not a good sign for our first outing. I'll put down a 50 dollar every way bet on him.

There were 8 horses in the race. Mika got off to a slow start and was last the first time past the line. With about 6 furlongs left he made a bit of a move. When he hit the 3 furlongs to go pole he had moved to 4th but dropped some in the final quarter mile to end 5th, just holding on to 5th a the wire.

The jockey rode him as a closer and said he never settled but no complaints on the distance.

Lost my bets.

Mika earned $232 for the 5th place finish.

[EagleFan]

January 18, 2012

Nashaab has been cleared. She still should be able to make that race.

[EagleFan]

January 19, 2012

Race 2 at Finger Lakes for Vizulize. It doesn't look good as she is a 50:1 shot in a field of 13.

I put down a $20 everyway on her.

She got out of the gate 5th and sadly that was where the good news ends. She just couldn't sustain against the field andslowly began to drop until she ended in last place and was the odd horse out of the pack as she finished about 4 lengths behind the horse in front of her.

The jocky rode her as a stalker. Said she was outclassed and had lost the race before it began. The horse sweated badly. (any horse people out there know what that could mean?)

[EagleFan]

January 25, 2012

Race 2 at Hollywood Park. She is middle of the pack in odds at 9:1.

I put down a $25 everyway on her.

Nashaab flew out of the gate, taking the early lead. She led for the first half of the race by several lenghts but started to fall back. She lost the lead with a quarter mile to go and slid back to 3rd with 1 furlong to go. She was passed by one more horst in the final furlong and finished 4th.

The jockey rode her as a Stalker. Felt that suited her. Distance and ground seemed to suit her well also.

Nashaab earned $547 for the 4th place finish.

[EagleFan]

January 26, 2012

Entered Mika in a 1m C7 Handicap (0-60) at Oaklawn Park. Booked E Morales as the jockey for the race. Trying a different jockey for him to see how he does.

[EagleFan]

February 1, 2012

Balance - $160,826
Last Month - ($9,174)


Entered Nashaab into a 5f C6 Handicap (0-75) at Prairie Meadows. Booked N Saez as the jockey as Talamo was not available. It will also give me a good feel for other jockeys to see what may be best for her. I think she is in good position for this race.

Entered Vizulize in a 5f Selling Race at Rillito Park. Booked E Morales as the jockey to try adifferent approach. She may be in over her head again so I feel there is little chance of losing her to a sale.

[EagleFan]

Game Note

I am doing this without the latest patch. Every time I install the latest patch Norton completely removes the game from my laptop no matter what settings I try.

[EagleFan]

February 10, 2012

Race 1 at Oaklawn Park. Mika is 9:2 and by odds if 3rd. He opened at 5:1 and has improved slightly. Seven horses in the field.

He started slowly and was at the back of the pack all the way until a half mile remained. He was up to 5th by the quarter mile pole but couldn't improve from there and finished 5th.

The jockey ran him as a closer. Sad he ran a little freely. The trip was too short and he couldn't get into it.

Earned $114 for the 5th place finish.

[EagleFan]

February 14, 2012

Race two ar Prairie Meadows. Nashaab is 9:4 in a small field with only 4 horses.

She went wire to wire. By the first furlong she had full length lead. It had dropped to a half length with a quarter mile to go but she turned on another gear and won by about 3 lengths.

The jockey rode her as a stalker and said to quote "this horse is a machine".

With the win Nashaab's earnings are up to $9,921.

[EagleFan]

February 17, 2012

Race three at Rillito Park. Vizulize is a longshot at 40:1 in the selling race. There are 9 horses in the field.

She got out of the gate midpack and fell back to 7th where she seemed to settle in until dropping to 8th with about a furlong to go and ended in 8th. The only horse she beat had pulled up injured.

Ridden as a front runner but had no chance out there according to the jockey.

[EagleFan]

February 21, 2012

Booked Nashaab in 6f Grade 3 for 2 year olds on March 24th at Finger Lakes. Booked N Saez as the jockey, hoping that he continues to respond well to Saez. This is a big step up.

[EagleFan]

February 24, 2012

Booked Mika in a March 7, 2012 race at Belmont Park. It's a 1m1f C7 handicap (0-70) on dirt. Booked L Frey as the jockey.

[EagleFan]

March 1, 2012

Balance - $159,625
Last Month - ($1,201)

Enter Vizulize in a March 14th race at Ellis Park. It's a 5f C7 handicap (0-60). Hopefully this will be a good field for her. Booked N Saez as the jockey, maybe he can bring a little magic her way.

[EagleFan]

March 7, 2012

Mika is in Race 6 at Belmont Park. He is currently at 7:1. There are 6 horses in the field. The track is mainly dry.

I put a $20 everyone on him.

He started out mid pack and settled into 3rd until there was a half mile left. He sropped to 4th by 3 furlongs to go and then back to 6th with a quarter mile left. He didn't seem to have enough left and finished in 6th.

The jockey rode him as a closer and felt they had no chance out there. He never settled.

[EagleFan]

March 14, 2012

Vizulize is in Race 1 at Ellis Park. She is at 15:2 in a field of 7. There is a chance of showers.

Put a $20 everyway on her. Maybe one of these times I can collect.

She started out quickly and led until there was 3 furlongs left but begane to falter. She was 3rd with 2 furlongs to go and the bottom fell out in the last furlong as she finished 6th.

The jockey rode her as a front runner and says they were beaten by better horses. This was one of the lowest rated handicaps so being beaten by better horses in this class doesn't look promising.

[EagleFan]

March 24, 2012

Nashaab is in the 4th race at Finger Lakes. She is middle of the pack at 7:1 in a field of 13. This Grade 3 race will be a huge test for her. The horse to watch is Sarrego, the favorite. She is 2 for 2 in her career.

I put a $25 everyway on Nashaab. I also boxed a $10 exacta between her and Sarrego.

She got out of the gate well and early. With a quarter mile to go she was a half length in front of Sarrego. Sarrego passed her with about a furlong to go and that seemed to burst the dam as she then dropped to finish 5th. It was a littel disappointing as they were neck and neck and then when Sarrego pulled just a little ahead it was like her spirit was broken.

The jockey road her as a stalker and felt that is suited her well, bith ride and distance.

She won $650 from the 5th place fnish. Now up to $10,571 in earnings.

[EagleFan]

March 25, 2012

Entered Mika in an April 7, 2012 race at Meadowlands. Its a 1m1f C7 Handicap (0-60). Booked W Rose as the jockey.

[EagleFan]

March 27, 2012

Entered Vizulize in an April 11, 2012 race at Oaklawn Park. It's a 5f C7 Handicap (0-60). Booked N Moreno as the jockey.

[EagleFan]

April 1, 2012

Balance - $152,059
Last Month - ($7,566)


Entered Nashaab in an April 10, 2012 race at Aqueduct. It is a 6f handicap (0-85) for 2 year olds. Booked N Saez as the jockey. Paid the late registration fee for this one as there seems to be too long of a wait for the next race that suits her after this.

[EagleFan]

April 7, 2012

Mika is in the 6th race at Meadowlands. Heavy rain for the race. He is 10:1 and the second longest odds in the field of 7.

He started out near the back of the pack. With about 5 furlongs left he was in 6th place. He moved up to 4th with about 3 furlongs to go but could never make another move from there and finished 4th.

The jockey rode him as a closer and thinks that maybe we should try another furlong.

[EagleFan]

April 10, 2012

Nashaab is in race 2 at Aqueduct Park. She is 11:2 which is about midpack in the field of 7. There is a chance of showers.

I put a $50 everyway bet on her.

She was second out of the gate but by the time she hit the half mile remaining pole she had a one length lead. With a quarter mile left she still had a one length lead but this time it was over the hard charging Snuggles. At the one furlong pole Snuggles had passed her and would go on to win by a length over Nashaab who maintained her lead over the rest of the pack.

The jockey rode her as a stalker which suited perfectly and she seemed to like the ground which was wet but not muddy.

I gained a net of $18 on my bets.

She won $4384 for second place. Her winnings are now up to $14,955.

[EagleFan]

April 11, 2012

Vizulize is in the 1st race at Oaklawn Park. She is 11:2 in a field of just 5 horses. This will be the weakest overall field that she has faced with one horse having once finished as high as 3rd.

She was last out of the gate. Moved up to 4th after 1 furlong. Moved up to 3rd after 2 furlongs. That was where the good news ends as she faded back to last place. She has nothing.

The jockey tried to ride her as a front runner (sad) and they were never in it.

She actually earned $132 for the 5th place finish, go figure. Maybe I need to find small fields to enter her in.

[EagleFan]

April 19, 2012

Giving Nashaab a very big test as I am entering her in a May 5th race at Churchill Downs. It is a Grade 3 Kentucky Breeders Cup at 5f for 2 year olds. Booked N Saez as the jockey.

Entering Vizulize in May 4th race at Churchill Downs. It is a 6f Selling race. I booked M Quinonez as the jockey.

Entered Mika in a May 5th race at Churchill Downs. It's a 1m1f Selling Race as I am taking a gamble here. I booked L Frey as the jockey.

[EagleFan]

May 1, 2012

Balance - $142,236
Last Month - ($9,823)

2012 - 1/12 $15,755
Career - 1/12 $15,755

[EagleFan]

May 4, 2012

Vizulize is in the 5th race at Churchill Downs. She is 16:1 in the field of 12 which has gone up from her opening 14:1.

She got out of the gate quickly and led by about a length up until a quarter mile left to go. At about a furlong left she was passed and then faded in teh last half of a furlong to end in 6th. It was quite frustrating to watch.

The jockey rode her as a front runner which seemed to suit.

[EagleFan]

May 5, 2012

Big day with 2 horses going.

Nashaab is in the 1st race at Churchill Downs, the Grade 3 Kentucky Breeders Cup for 2 year olds. She is 15:2 afgter opening at 9:1.

She got out of the gate about 3rd. She was able to stay around mid pack for most of the race but then got caught in traffic and faded back to last.

The jockey ran her as a front runner but felt she was outclassed. I guess it will be back to the Handicaps and out of the Stakes.


Mika is in the 6th race at Churchill Downs. He is a 13:8 favorite in a field of 10.

He started out mid pack and by 7 furlongs left he was in last. He stayed there until about 5 furlongs left when he started to make a move. With a half mile left he was up to 7th. With a quarter mile left he was up to 3rd. He couldn't improve on 3rd as that is where he finished.

The jockey rode him as a closer. Felt that suited but that he ran freely and didn't have the pace for most of the race.

He earned $430 for the 3rd place finish.


Not the day I was hoping for.

[EagleFan]

Will run the Kentucky Derby tomorrow to see how that goes. Now to find a horse that may be able to be entered in that at some point in my "career".

[ozias]

Bump

Just wanted to see how your career is going.

I dabbled with the demo a little and then went ahead with the purchase.

Didn't realize you start off with 3 horses so I spent money on 2 at the opening auction, big mistake....ended up going broke and having to sell the horses to keep the game going. I did get into year 3 before being broke.

Once I started the next career, I "cheated", if you want to call it that. I had a good horse out of the first three you're given, and entered him into a few "easy" races, and bet the farm on him...low and behold, he won, and I got rich. Not super rich mind you, but just over $600,000. Then a light bulb went off in my head and I gambled on some other races that I wasn't involved in, won some, lost some, but was able to get my cash over a million.

Then I upgraded my stables, raced some more, and gambled some more until I was able to add the breeding barn. I've bred the same few mares with a couple of different stallions for the past couple of years. Haven't had a great horse yet, but have been able to sell the Colts and Filly's at auction, or after a selling race they've won. Most of the time I can get 100-200, but I did manage to sell one of them for 850,000. So that's what I've been doing to get my cash built up.

I'll race the filly/colt in a maiden race, and if they perform well, I'll enter them in more, but the ones that can't hold there own, I make sure I send them to auction on Thursday(that's when auctions are held outside of selling races). The dud's don't bring much money, 10-20k, this lets me make sure I have 5-8 horses in the stables, and I replenish with the breeding barn.

I just found a stallion that was rated 114 with 104 from the previous win, so I spent 609,650 on him at auction....once he finishes this year, I'll send him to the breeding barn, and retire my other stallion from the game. The other stallion is only rated a 66, and doesn't have the Speed, Stamina, Accel, or Start that the new guy has, so I'm hoping the new guy will allow me to breed some better horses, and hopefully before the season ends I'll be able to add a top end mare to go with the highly rated stallion.

Even by doing all that I've done, I'm still a long way off from being a top breeder, or money maker, so I don't know if you can call what I did "cheating".