Posted on 4/25/2008 5:10:07 PM

Wagering On Horse Races and 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 he will keep you up to date on what is happening on the circuits he covers.

It’s opening day at Churchill Downs and we are just a week away from the first Saturday of May and the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby.

The 52-day Churchill Downs meeting gets underway today with the $100,000 Derby Trial Stakes. Once a prep race for the Derby, trainers no longer use the race as a prep, preferring to give their promising three year olds more than a week between races.

In fact, the last Derby winner to use the Derby Trial as a prep was Tim Tam back in 1958.

After spending the past few weeks trying to figure out the polytrack at Keeneland, it will be nice to get back to racing on real honest to goodness dirt.

There are 25 graded stakes on tap at the meeting, with the Kentucky Derby as the marquee event. Between next Thursday and Derby Day there are 12 graded stakes on the menu.

Kentucky Oaks Day is Friday May 2. In addition to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, there are four other graded races on the Oaks card: the Alysheba Stakes (G3), Louisville Stakes (G2), Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes (G3), and the Crown Royal American Turf Stakes (G3).

On Derby Day, there are five other graded stakes: the La Troienne Stakes (G3), Humana Distaff Stakes (G1), Churchill Downs Handicap (G2), Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (G3), and the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1).

The other big day of the meeting is Stephen Foster Day on June 14. In addition to the Grade 1 Foster, which is for older horses, there are five other graded stakes: the Regret Stakes (G3), Fleur De Lis Handicap (G2), Jefferson Cup Stakes (G2), Northern Dancer Stakes (G3), and the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (G3).

Racing continues at the historic track until July 6.

Let’s head out to Louisville and try to pad our bankroll with today’s featured race of the day:

Churchill Downs Race 10 Derby Trial S. (5:17 ET)

#1 Eaton's Gift 7/2

#4 Kodiak Kowboy 5/2

#5 Majestic Warrior 5/1

#3 Fujita 6/1

Analysis: #1 Eaton's Gift is coming off a third place finish in the Lafayette last out at Keeneland over the poly. Set the early fractions and weakened to finish 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner while catching a surface that was favoring outside stalkers and closers that day. Two back the colt earned a career top when winning the G2 Swale in gate to wire fashion. Owns a solid pace profile with the edge in early pace numbers. He is one of three in here that has won over the surface, taking a Alw-1 race here last fall at seven furlongs. The colt drilled a bullet over the surface here on 4/20 for Romans barn that goes with an interesting selection in jocks with Hebert.

#4 Kodiak Kowboy finished 4 1/2 lengths behind our top pick last out after coming with a six wide move. Everyone was expecting better out of this guy as he was bet down to even money. Could blame it on the poly but the colt did win the $127K Victoria last June at Woodbine on poly. The colt is a perfect 2 for 2 over the surface here including winning the G3 Bashford Manor here last July. Figures to bounce back with a better effort here in his third start off the bench but not sure the price is going to offer much in the way of value for the top spot.

#5 Majestic Warrior adds blinkers here while cutting back to one turn. His last pair in the G2 La Derby and G1 Fla. Derby were very disappointing, but is a G1 winner, taking the Hopeful at seven furlongs last fall at the Spa. The cut back in distance may suit as this guy's mom Dream Supreme was a multiple stakes winner sprinting and earned $1 million in her career. In good hands with Mott and figures to bounce back with a better effort here.

Wagering

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

EX: 1,4 / 1,3,4,5

TRI: 1,4 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,3,4,5,6,9

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

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