Posted on 5/9/2008 8:23:54 PM

Betting Online on Horses 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.

The Kentucky Derby is in the books and it is another week until we see Big Brown attempt to take down the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

However, three year olds stay in the spotlight on Saturday. The $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G2) is the feature at Belmont Park. The nine-furlong race serves as a prep for the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Also on Saturday is the $400,000 Lone Star Derby (G3) at Lone Star Park. A field of 13 three year olds will go 1 1/16 miles, and this race may also produce a couple of Belmont Stakes runners.

Let’s head out to the Big Apple and the Lone Star State as we try to pad our bankroll:

Belmont Park Race 9 Peter Pan Stakes Grade 2 (Post time 5:15 ET)

#5 Golden Spikes is coming off a good effort in a runner up finish in the Illinois Derby (G2) at Hawthorne behind gate to wire winner Recapturetheglory, who came back to run fifth in the Kentucky Derby. The race also produced the third place finisher in the Derby (Denis of Cork) and the winner of the Illinois bred Milwaukee Avenue (Instill). The colt owns the top last out speed fig and a solid pace profile throughout. The colt gets an upgrade in jocks to Prado and looks like the one to beat here.

#6 Ready’s Echo tried two turns for the first time last out at Keeneland on the polytrack, making a good late run to come up a neck shy of beating Alw-1 company. The third place finisher in that race was Tizdejavu, who came back to win the American Turf (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 2. The colt is lightly raced and still appears to have plenty of upside for Pletcher barn.

#1 Casino Drive broke his maiden in Japan and is the wildcard in here. He does have something going for him as he faces winners for the first time here. His sibs include Jazil and Rags to Riches, the last two Belmont Stakes winners.

Wagering

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

EX: 5,6 / 1,3,5,6

TRI: 5,6 / 1,2,3,5,6 / 1,2,3,5,6

Lone Star Park Race 10 Lone Star Derby Grade 3 (Post time 5:47 CT)

#1 Limestone Edge / #1a Samba Rooster

#6 Texas Wildcatter

#2 El Gato Malo

#9 Leonides

#1a Samba Rooster set the early fractions and could not hold off Behindatthebar, settling for the runner up spot at 17/1 in the Lexington Stakes (G2). Two back the Baffert colt was a good second behind Harlem Rocker, who came back to win the Withers Stakes (G3) in his next outing on April 26. The colt adds blinkers today and may prove tough to catch. Entry mate #1 Limestone Edge exits a tough Alw-1 race, and if Ready’s Echo comes out of that race to run well in today’s Peter Pan, we might want to upgrade this guy’s chances. Completes a strong entry.

#6 Texas Wildcatter failed to fire last out in the Wood Memorial (G1), checking in eighth and beaten more than 30 lengths for the top spot. Bounces in a big way after a hard fought nose loss two back in the Gotham Stakes (G3) in the slop on the inner at Aqueduct. We’ll look for this Pletcher colt to bounce back with a better effort here in this spot and figures to get overlooked at the windows.

#2 El Gato Malo tries dirt for the first time today and adds blinkers. The gelding was fifth last out in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). The gelding won his first three starts including the San Rafael (G3) and was a good second two back in the Sham Stakes (G3). He fits with his best but the 2/1 morning line is on the light side.

Wagering

WIN: #1 to win at 9/5 or better.

EX: 1,6 / 1,2,6,9

TRI: 1,6 / 1,2,6,9 / 1,2,6,9,10,12

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

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