Posted on 4/16/2008 2:53:14 PM

Horse Race Wagering - 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.

Wednesday would be a good day to take off work and head out to the track. There is a record Pick 6 carryover of $307,050 at Keeneland and a carryover of $205,953 at Aqueduct.

We will concentrate on taking down the feature today at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes, and let’s invest $24 in the late Pick 3 at the Big A.

Today's Play of the Day from Keeneland:

KEE Race 8 Appalachian S. G3 (4:40 et)

#9 Alwajeeha 6/1

#5 Absolutely Cindy 6/1

#8 Namaste's Wish 4/1

#1 I Lost My Choo 7/2

Analysis: #9 Alwajeeha was a good second last out over good ground at Gulfstream behind Life Is Sweet, who came back to run fourth in the G1 Ashland in her next start. Ran a good second two back behind the talented Bsharpsonata, who won her next two starts in stakes and then missed winning the Ashland in a photo. In good hands with McLaughlin barn that is 26% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a 31-60 day break.

#5 Absolutely Cindy finished a length behind our top pick four back in the Tropical Oaks. She was outclassed last out in the Ashland and fits better here in this spot.

Wagering

WIN: #9 to win at 3/1 or better.

EX: 5,9 / 1,5,8,9

TRI: 5,9 / 1,5,8,9 / 1,4,5,6,8,9

Aqueduct Late Pick 3

Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,3,4,7 / 3,6 / 1,8,9 = $24

AQU Race 7 Md Sp Wt (3:55 et)

#7 Peace Street, #1 Sonnets Way / #1a Grand Advice, #4 Jelly Roll, #3 Raw Silk

#7 Peace Rules tries grass for the first time hereafter running into an 11 length winner last out on the inner dirt. That race has been key, the runner up and third place finisher both next out grads. This filly should take to the grass, by Street Cry out of a Lord At War mare. Has an underrated outfit in her corner and the 15/1 ML looks tempting.

#1 Sonnets Way makes her first start since her debut at Calder back in December where she finished a good fourth, making up ground late to finish two lengths behind the winner. Adds lasix today and she has three sibs that are winners including one turf winner. Pletcher is 20% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

AQU Race 8 OClm $75,000N1X (4:25 et)

#6 Pluracity, #3 British Columbia

#6 Pluracity went gate to wire to beat $32K starter allowance foes for the second time in a row and has won 4 of 11 career starts. The gelding owns a solid pace profile throughout and just does not seem to run a bad one, landing in the money in 10 of his 11 career starts. The extra furlong is the main question mark, a but light pedigree wise to handle nine furlongs.

#3 British Columbia went gate to wire to break his maiden last out in his seventh career start. Two back ran a good second behind Magical Forest, who came back to win the $65K Spicy Award in his next start.

AQU Race 9 Md Sp Wt (4:55 et)

#9 Wonderous Day, #1 Dirty Water Dog / #1a Bontempi, #8 Alpha Dancer

#9 Wonderous Day returns off a 2 1/2 month break after fading to finish seventh last out on the inner going nine furlongs. Drew a tough post that day and showed some early speed before the fade. One of his best efforts was a nose loss on the grass last fall at Belmont. Colt has one sib that is a grass winner and he sports a couple of good works for the return off the freshening for capable barn.

#1a Bontempi checked in fourth in his debut at Gulfstream going five furlongs and figures to move forward off that effort as he catches NY breds here. A factor if he draws in off the AE list.

Live Longshots:

These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

AQU R1: #4 Kimkanrun 12/1

AQU R3: #5 Debating 10/1

AQU R4: #2 Justoutofthebox 15/1

AQU R6: #4 Jimmy Jump Jump 10/1

AQU R7: #7 Peace Street 15/1

AQU R8: #2 All Expenses Paid 8/1

KEE R1: #7 Fitsin 15/1

KEE R4: #10 Rockin Rose 10/1

KEE R7: #2 Initforthekandy 10/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Kentucky Derby Odds at Churchill Downs bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2008 Kentucky Derby Betting.