Posted on 1/4/2008 9:19:15 PM

Horse Betting Odds - Padding Your Bankroll

By Michael Dempsey

National horse racing handicapper Michael Dempsey will attempt to pad his bankroll and yours with his daily column. He will feature at least one Pick 3 or Pick 4 play from a major track along with coverage of major stakes races, longshots, and will keep you up to date on what is happening on the circuits he covers. Don't miss Wednesday's report where Michael will keep you up to date with track bias reports for the major circuits.

It’s stakes action Saturday and we’ll head off to Tampa Bay, Gulfstream Park, and Fair Grounds in an attempt to pad our bankroll.

I was planning on heading out to Santa Anita, but there is rain in the forecast and a synthetic surface that does not drain very well.

Pretty ironic that of all the tracks running today, the best chance of seeing a cancelation may come in Southern California.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 8 Minaret S. (Post time 3:43 et)

#5 A Sea Trippi 5/1

#8 Lil’s Lassie 6/1

#12 Miss Tizzy 4/1

#7 Taylor Madison 7/2

#5 A Sea Trippi is returning off a three month break and lands with Scace barn. Was fourth last out here on the turf in a highly graded stake that produced a pair of next out stakes winners. The winner Annabil won her next two starts in stakes company while the third place finisher Cozzi Capital won the Calder Oaks in her next start on 10/13. Three back our top pick beat Annabill in a $50K stake here on the main track. Barn is 17% winners with horses coming back off a +90 day layoff.

#8 Lil’s Lassie was no match for our fourth choice last out in allowance company. It was her first go off a nine month layoff. She won her first three starts on the main track here before checking in third in her turf debut, and then headed to the sidelines. A couple of good works on the morning tab and she figures to be tighter for her second go off the bench.

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 3/1 or better.

EX: 5,8 / 5,7,8,12

TRI: 5,8 / 5,7,8,12 / 3,4,5,7,8,12

Gulfstream Park Race 7 Mr. Prospector Hcp G3 (Post time 4:00 et)

#5 Keyed Entry 3/1

#4 Mach Ride 5/2

#6 Grand Champion 5/1

#7 Roi Maudit 4/1

#5 Keyed Entry is making his first start since June where the colt set the early pace and faded while boring out badly in the stretch in the G2 True North. The five year old is a perfect 3 for 3 over the main track here, winning the G3 Deputy Minister here last year and winning the G2 Hutcheson back in ’06 with a 110 Beyer. Won here last year off the bench for Pletcher barn that is 25% winners with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff.

#4 Mach Ride makes his first start since a fourth place finish in the G1 Vosburgh where he got off to a slow start. The five year old ran third in this race last year off a similar layoff and does have a pair of wins over the surface, both back in ’06. Has a couple of bullet works on the morning tab although Standridge barn is showing just a 1 for 20 mark with horses coming back off a +90 day layoff.

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 2/1 or better

EX: 4,5 / 4,5,6,7

TRI: 4,5 / 2,4,5,6,7 / 2,4,5,6,7

Gulfstream Park Race 9 Hutcheson S. G2 (Post time 5:00 et)

#4 Halo Najib 3/1

#7 Big Truck 12/1

#10 Coal Play 4/1

#2 Grand Minstrel 6/1

#4 Halo Najib dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish fifth last out in the G2 Ky Jockey Club at Churchill, catching a main track that was favoring outside stalkers and closers that day. Two back was a game second in the G3 Iroquois going a one turn mile. The winner of that race was Court Vision, who returned to win the G2 Remsen in his next outing on 11/24. A couple of good works over the surface here since his last start. Looks primed for a good effort here for Romans barn.

#7 Big Truck had a tough trip in the G2 Remsen last out. The NY bred had to steady heading into the first turn, was roughed up while in between foes in the stretch and had to take up. Won a NY bred stake in his first go against winners and was a game third, beaten just a neck two back in the NY bred Sleepy Hollow behind repeat winner Giant Moon, who won the NY bred Damon Runyon in his next outing on 12/9. In good hands with Tagg and the 12/1 ML looks generous.

Wagering

WIN: #4 to win at 2/1 or better.

EX: 4,7 / 2,4,7,10

TRI: 4,7 / 2,4,7,10 / 2,4,6,7,9,10

Fair Grounds Race 9 Dixie Poker Ace S. (Post time 4:42 ct)

#2 Desert Wheat 9/2

#1 Wildrally 5/1

#7 Willist 4/1

#10 Prince T. 15/1

#2 Desert Wheat will need to turn the tables on our second and third choices here after a third last out in the La Turf, beaten two lengths for the top spot. The five year old won this race last year and is 3 for 6 over the turf here. Needs to see some pace today as there was not much to run at in his last outing. Sent off at 4/5 last out, we should catch a better price today.

#1 Wildrally was a neck in front of our top pick last out. Amoss gelding is a perfect 2 for 2 at a mile including a win in the state bred Erwin in his stakes debut four back. Makes his third start of his current form cycle and is reunited with Jacinto, who was aboard for his stakes win.

Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 1,2 / 1,2,7,10

TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,7,10 / 1,2,3,6,7,10

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