Buying on a Budget: How to Find Champions on the Marketplace
Everyone loves a good bargain, and shopping for Photo Finish™ LIVE horses on the marketplace is no exception. In PFL, identifying undervalued or “diamond in the rough” horses in the market can make all the difference in building a successful stable.
Of course, that's easier said than done! But, with that in mind, we reached out to two seasoned players, Big Z Race Gen, and MD Stables, to get their insights on how they navigate the marketplace to uncover potential champions.
Both stables have recently posted about bargain basement horses they scooped up, paying themselves off after one race – but how can you replicate that success?
We asked, and they answered.
Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned player looking to refine your strategy, their experiences offer valuable lessons in finding success.
Prioritizing Key Traits and Statistics
Straight out of the gate – when searching for hidden gems, Big Z Race Gen and MD Stables emphasized in our chat the importance of focusing on specific traits and statistics that might indicate a horse's potential.
Big Z Race Gen tells us he highlights sub-stats' significance, star ratings (preferably 7.5+), and a proven pedigree of previous winners.
“I look at several factors,” Big Z Race Gen explains, “Including the history of stud breeding to see if they're producing winners.”
In their second season of playing, MD Stables says they focus on bloodline quality, star preferences (usually at least six stars), and whether the horse's parents were winners.
“The horse doesn't need all of these traits,” MD Stables notes, “but having one or more always helps.”
Budget Management and Investment Decisions
Balancing a budget while hunting for hidden gems is a common challenge for players. Big Z Race Gen says he sets a budget of 25,000 $DERBY ($312.50). This disciplined approach ensures they invest in horses that are more likely to succeed.
“Value to me is the proven pedigree of previous winners, minimal number of sires/grandsires, stars, and rarity,” says Big Z Race Gen.
MD Stables admits that balancing their budget is challenging due to their inclination to take risks.
“Balancing my budget has proven to be the hardest thing because I like to take risks and cannot always do that,” MD Stables shares.
To manage this, they maintain a minimum amount of $DERBY in reserve, which prevents them from making impulsive purchases and helps them stay focused on long-term goals.
Utilizing Third-Party Tools
While Big Z Race Gen prefers relying on their extensive experience and knowledge of the game, MD Stables leverages third-party tools to assist their evaluations.
These tools help them determine a horse's potential value and performance and assess whether it has been raced under optimal conditions.
“I usually use Photo Finish Edge and GAP Data to help with my decisions,” MD Stables says.
“PFE helps determine the potential performance of the horse. Using their charts, I can usually determine if the horse has been raced incorrectly and, if so, which distance/condition it should be raced at instead.”
MD Stables also values the input of other experienced players, such as Sundown Stable, who have been instrumental in guiding their purchasing decisions.
“When I am struggling to make a decision, I will usually turn to @SundownStable (Twitter @), who has helped me a lot in learning the game and making purchasing decisions,” they add.
The Buying Process: From Marketplace to Stable
For both players, purchasing a horse involves careful research and evaluation.
Big Z Race Gen looks for mares and studs priced under $DERBY, researching the mare's record and the stud's previous success rate, and focuses on newly bred horses.
“I will only buy mostly newly bred horses,” Big Z Race Gen explains. “Once I'm satisfied with the quality of pedigree and stars, I purchase and will wait 1 or 2 seasons to race.”
MD Stables begins by analyzing the horse's bloodline. Then, it checks the parents' performance stats to gauge the horse's potential makeup.
They use Photo Finish Edge and GAP Data to assess the horse's value and determine whether it has been raced correctly.
“When I first go to a horse's page, I immediately go to the Bloodline page to see how their parents and grandparents performed on the track,” MD Stables describes. “Doing this helps me decide if the horse needs to be raced at a different distance or in different conditions.”
Success Stories and Advice for New Players
Big Z Race Gen shares that they made some mistakes in the past, but from Season 17 onward, they successfully purchased ten horses based on their established criteria.
This systematic approach has paid off, resulting in a stable of competitive racers.
MD Stables recalls claiming a horse in a claimer's race that had previously won two races at 12F. The previous owner subsequently ran the horse in the wrong races. Still, after acquiring it, MD Stables returned it to its preferred distance, leading to two consecutive wins with impressive numbers.
“What made him stand out was that he had won a couple of times before that race,” MD Stables recalls. “I have had him for two races now, and he has won them while putting up good numbers.”
Big Z Race Gen and MD Stables advise new players with limited budgets to get started now, small, and plan. The payoffs with a small start could end up big if you do the research in your downtime, leading to much fewer deep dives and more racing for big pots.
Big Z Race Gen compares PFL to a chess game, emphasizing the importance of planning 3 to 4 seasons and selecting races that match the horse's preferences.
“Photofinish is like a game of chess with lots of moving pieces and planning 3-4 seasons when breeding,” advises Big Z Race Gen.
MD Stables recommends sticking to a budget and finding a knowledgeable player to discuss strategies with.
“The best advice I can give is to make a budget and stick to it,” MD Stables says. “Talking to someone about the game has helped me a ton.”
