by G. S. Thompson
“Longshot Les” Buzzell captured his second Player’s Choice Handicapping Tournament title at Assiniboia Downs last Saturday, but if you think he did it by taking wild stabs in the dark, think again.
The 61-year-old Montreal native, who owns a signals and communications company that works with CP and CN, employed specific longshot angles to build his $60 bankroll to a tournament-best $156.10, well clear of runner-up Eve Tilston-Jones ($122.90), Bill Drew ($117.50), Mackenzie Stewin ($103.70), and Ron Phelps ($101.30).
Buzzell, who only began seriously handicapping the races four years ago, took home the monthly trophy and $1,000 for his efforts. It was the second time he’d won the tournament in the past three years, despite only entering three times.
“Everybody thinks I just swing for the fences without looking, but I don’t,” said Buzzell, who was first introduced to horse racing decades ago at Blue Bonnets in Montreal.
Buzzell focuses on several specific longshot angles:
“I look for bad trouble lines, and also if they have finished fourth or fifth in their last race,” said Buzzell. “Or if they’ve been bet three races in a row but are now at big odds.”
The strategy paid off with two big winners last Saturday, including an 18-1 shot at Gulfstream Park and a 16-1 shot at Turfway Park.
Sherlock’s Jewel won the eighth race at Gulfstream Park for Buzzell and paid $39.70, $16.90, $10.20 across the board. Sant’ Antimo won the third race at Turfway Park and returned $34.30, $16.00, $12.70. The place and show prices were enhanced when the favourites in both races finished out of the top three spots. “Those big place and show prices are key,” said Buzzell.
Turfway Park has become Buzzell’s favourite hunting ground for longshots. “I just find that every horse has a chance there,” he said. “Especially when their past races are from Keeneland and Churchill and they’ve finished eighth or worse. For some reason they do well at Turfway Park.”
Another angle Buzzell employs involves morning line odds. “If you go back the last two or three years, you’ll find the stats are amazing on horses that are 12-1 on the morning-line,” he said. “How often they come in, not just win, but also place and show.”
When you think about it, a 12-1 horse on the morning line would be a horse that the line maker thinks has some chance of winning, otherwise they would have it at higher odds. A 12-1 horse would have to be considered to have some kind of angle going for it, otherwise it would likely be 20-1 or higher on the morning-line.
Buzzell isn’t a student of handicapping books or complex systems. He credits a single handicapping seminar and guidance from the late Ivan Bigg for teaching him how to read past performances. He has since developed his angles through observation.
“When I was handicapping a Pick 5 that I hit, I noticed trouble-line horses that had finished fourth or fifth, or that were bet heavily, tended to run a lot better in their next races,” said Buzzell. “So I started playing them.”
Buzzell’s Pick 5 success hasn’t been limited to small scores either. “I’ve hit a couple of Pick 5s in the $20,000 range,” he said. His approach to those multi-race wagers? “I usually use one favourite, the one I think will win, but that’s it. All the other horses I use are longshots.”
For those questioning his seemingly unconventional approach, Buzzell remains confident in his methods. “I like the way I do it,” he said. “Everybody looks at me like, ‘What? Didn’t you see this?’ If I miss a longshot, I didn’t like him because he finished eighth or ninth. They’ve got to show me something.”
While the substantial paydays certainly haven’t hurt, Buzzell expressed genuine appreciation for the atmosphere at Assiniboia Downs. “I’ve been to other off-track betting places and tracks,” he said, “I just find Assiniboia Downs to be a lot friendlier for some reason. I like the people here and I enjoy the atmosphere.”
The next Player’s Choice Handicapping Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th, where Buzzell will undoubtedly be among the entrants to watch.
You’ll find him in the trouble lines.