If you look at the dogs before the races, like I do, you’ve probably noticed that they all look like winners. They’re alert, panting slightly with anticipation, pulling at the leash and just rarin’ to go. But they can’t all win, so how do you tell which one is really as ready as it looks to beat the others to the finish line?

Well, I guess you could say that all of them are “ready” to win, because they’re all focused on catching that lure that keeps eluding them. But desire isn’t enough. It takes more than picking a dog that “wants” to win to have you cashing tickets after the race.

I look for dogs who are ready to win by checking some factors that indicate that they’re certain to take advantage of any opportunity the other dogs hand them. These are the dogs who will outrun, out-think and outdo the competition.

First of all, dogs who are ready are in mid-season form. They’re healthy, fresh, pumped up and not likely to give up. How do I know which dogs are in this condition? I read the program. If a dog has had so many races that it’s ready for a layoff, it’s not fresh and it’s probably not in form.

If a dog faded in each of its last four races, it indicated to me that this dog is out of form, injured, has a mental health issue with racing or just doesn’t try. This is not a dog that’s likely to take advantage of another dog’s stumble or misstep.

But when I see a dog that has been really trying in its last few races. One that has been close to the leaders and maybe has overcome a bump or a stumble or some adversity and still come back from it, that’s the dog I pick to win.

Dogs who are determined and racing close to the front of the pack are ready to do whatever they have to do to win races. So if you see a dog in good form, that’s been holding its own against good dogs, give it a close look. This is a dog that is going to take advantage of every little benefit in a race. This is the dog you’re going to cash tickets on.