Silver Charm,

"CH, how do they verify and support each other before the horses have faced off. You are talking out of both sides of your mouth with this one."

I look at mathematical measurements of ability like speed and pace figures.

I also look at subjective measurements of ability like the quality of the field.
I want to know how impressively the horses have been winning, against who, how consistently, how "deep" in talent the race was, was the race development competitive or uncompetitive, etc...

These things support or conflict with each other.

When a race looks like it was high in quality and it also comes back fast mathematically, I'm a lot more confident in that race than if there's a conflict between the two.

In fact, I think very high quality races are sometimes so competitive they impact the figures of some of the participants negatively (usually pace/duel related) and vice versa.

I form all these opinions both prior to the race and after watching and analyzing the results (including fractions and final time).

I then give even more weight to my opinions as various horses run out of these races and further verify those opinions.

For example:

IMO, the east coast 3yos have looked superior to the west coast 3yos on every measurement I look at. The results of some of the preps where there have been crossovers just added more fuel to that opinion. I think most of us agree on this.

However, it's not always that clear.

Sometimes there is conflicting evidence.

That's when I get into some of the "no solid position "if" posts" that lots of people complain about.

To me though, this type of "if thinking" is just part of the "line making" process. I am never nearly as confident in my speed figures alone as most figure handicappers are - certainly nowhere near most TG users.

To me, they are just one tool in my tool box - albeit a very important one. I tend to weigh a lot of information - most of which is not certain. I use a lot of subjective judgement based on 30 years of watching and handicapping races.