By Bill Finley
Numerous horseplayers received an email Thursday from a touting service promising pari-mutuel riches that purported to be authored by trainer Wayne Potts. But Potts told the TDN that he was in no way affiliated with the service, which includes the website wayne-potts.com.
“It's not me,” he said. “It's not my phone number. I have already reached out to somebody. I don't want to get into it anymore. I have already made phone calls.”
The email includes a number in the 410 area code and the website lists a number in the 323 area code. The call to the 410 area code goes to voice mail and says that the customer's mail box is full. The call to the 323 number also went to voice mail with the person on the other end saying the caller has reached “RVN.” A message was left at that number but no one returned the call. The same 323 number is listed on the website eastcoastcappers.club, which sells sports picks from “professional handicappers” Bobby “The Bank” Thomas and Joey “Line Master” Cash and on another website for a touting service, officialpicks.com. The 410 number shows up on a tweet from a Mark Hoffman which includes a video in which he is peddling picks on the NCAA tournament.
The TDN also sent an email to the address listed on the website but, as of the deadline for this story, had no received a reply.
Whoever is behind the email and the website went to a lot of trouble in an attempt to use Potts's name to sell picks. The website is professionally designed and includes accurate biographical information about Potts, including the fact that he had previously worked for trainer David Rose.
“I want to say this again….I am a real trainer with real horses and an edge,” the email reads. “You can look me up anytime on Google. March alone I've had two winners, Honey Money, Baby I'm Perfect, and 2nd Supreme Aura. No one has a edge more than me in this business. I combine knowledge and years of contacts to give my clients the best position.”
Trained by Potts, Honey Money (Central Banker) won a March 26 starter stakes at Aqueduct and paid $7.90. Baby I'm Perfect (Flower Alley) won another starter stakes that same day at Aqueduct, paying $14.60.
“After 20 years in the business and behind doors picking I decided to open my mind and experience and all the winners to the public,” it reads.
It continues: “I've been ranked and documented in top 100 for 6 years straight, it's now time to open up my knowledge and business to the public.
The mail touts an undisclosed pick on the Friday card at Gulfstream that is a “stunner” and can be purchased for $21. Packages are also available for prices ranging from $79 to $749. The $749 packages promises “1 quality play a day” for a month. There is also a link to a section selling picks on sporting events.
Potts's name has been in the news frequently of late, including an announcement from NYRA last week that he was among six trainers being denied stalls. He also received a 30-day suspension last year at Monmouth after being charged that he failed to follow orders from a state veterinarian to have a horse vanned off the track. Potts was the leading trainer last year at Monmouth with 38 wins.
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