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Weekend Tournament Slate: Using the OPI to Win Your Seat
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Editor’s Note: A New Era for TheFreePPs.com
Since we launched, our mission has been simple: provide the highest quality past performances and proprietary-free data to the racing community for free. Today, we take the next step in that mission.
The growing world of handicapping tournaments demands a different kind of data—one that prioritizes value and leverage over ‘chalk’ favorites. By applying our three pillars—the OPI Pedigree Index, Competitive Grade, and Recent Speed Figures—to the weekend’s biggest contests, we are giving you the tools to not just play, but to win your seat in events like the NHC and BCBC.
Welcome to the first of many weekly Tournament Slates. We provide the data; you provide the winners.
Handicapping tournaments are not just about picking winners; they are about finding leverage. Whether you are playing in a “Pick & Pray” format where your picks are locked, or a “Live Money” format like the BCBC, the Overall Performance Index (OPI) is designed to find the discrepancies the public misses.
Today, we are breaking down two major opportunities for Saturday, Feb 21, using the three pillars of the FPPS system.
$25,000 HorseTourneys Pick & Pray: The Search for the “Cap Horse”
In a Pick & Pray, you need a “Cap Horse”—a longshot that hits the maximum points allowed to catapult you up the leaderboard. Our OPI analysis of the Gulfstream sequence has flagged a major class/speed discrepancy.
Spotlight Race: Gulfstream Park, Race 9
6 Furlongs | Dirt | Optional Claiming
| P# | Horse | OPI Pedigree Index | Competitive Grade | Recent Speed Figure | Final OPI Score |
| 4 | Sonic Blast | 92 | A- | 89 | 91 |
| 1 | Trade Winds | 84 | B+ | 91 | 88 |
The OPI Edge: While the public will flock to Trade Winds (#1) due to a field-high Recent Speed Figure of 91, our system identifies Sonic Blast (#4) as the superior tournament play.
Sonic Blast holds a Competitive Grade of A-, having chased elite speed at Churchill and Saratoga. His 92 Pedigree Index suggests he is just now reaching his physical peak. In a Pick & Pray, playing the #4 provides the leverage you need to pass the “chalk” players if the favorite falters.
Enter the $25k Guaranteed at HorseTourneys
BCBC Qualifier: Building the Bankroll with “Class Anchors”
Building on our previous guide on How to Win the BCBC, we know that Live Money formats require “Class Anchors”—horses that can survive a contested pace to keep your bankroll moving forward.
Spotlight Race: Santa Anita, Race 7
6.5 Furlongs | Downhill Turf | Allowance
| P# | Horse | OPI Pedigree Index | Competitive Grade | Recent Speed Figure | Final OPI Score |
| 3 | Midnight Stag | 88 | A | 92 | 93 |
| 7 | Canyon Run | 94 | B+ | 88 | 90 |
The OPI Edge:
For this BCBC qualifier, we are looking at Midnight Stag (#3). While other contenders may show flashes of higher speed, Midnight Stag’s Competitive Grade of A is the highest in the field.
He is dropping out of graded stakes company into an Allowance spot. In a Live Money format, this is your “Bridge” horse. Use him to anchor your multi-race wagers or as a heavy Win/Place bet to build the capital needed for the later races in the sequence.
Enter the BCBC Qualifier at HorsePlayers
Why the OPI Matters in Contest Play
Traditional past performances tell you what a horse did. The FPPS system tells you what a horse is capable of doing today.
- OPI Pedigree Index: Tells us if the horse has the “engine” for the distance.
- Competitive Grade: Tells us if the horse is the “Class” of the field.
- Recent Speed Figure: Provides the context of their current fitness.
By combining these, we find the overlays that traditional speed-figure players simply cannot see.
Saturday “Now Horse” Spotlights
Oaklawn Park | Race 4 | 1 1/16 Miles (Dirt)
The Now Horse: #5 Silver Cavalier
- OPI Pedigree Index: 88
- Competitive Grade: B
- Recent Speed Figure: 84
- The “Now” Factor: While his speed figures look “flat” on paper, his Competitive Grade has been steadily climbing. He’s moving from a “C+” sprint to a “B” route. His last workout (47.2 Breezing) suggests he is a Now Horse ready to explode at a distance he’s bred to handle.
Gulfstream Park | Race 6 | 5 Furlongs (Turf)
The Now Horse: #2 Rapid Response
- OPI Pedigree Index: 91
- Competitive Grade: B+
- Recent Speed Figure: 87
- The “Now” Factor: This horse has been “knocking on the door” with two consecutive place finishes. The OPI Pedigree Index of 91 for this turf sprint is the highest in the field. He’s been held up in traffic in his last two starts; with a clean break, he’s the definition of a Now Horse ready to graduate.
