Posted on 5/16/2008 7:11:44 PM

Wagering on Horse Racing - 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.

So you don’t like online betting chalk. After all, who does?

Big Brown is likely to go off at around 2/5 odds this afternoon in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.

I tried to beat him on Kentucky Derby Day to no avail, and I am not sure I want to try that again.

The good news is there is a marathon 13-race card at Pimlico today, kicking off with a 10:30 am ET post time. That means there will be plenty of opportunities to pad our bankroll, and for those of you on the west coast, a good reason to set your alarm clock.

Here are a couple of my best plays for Saturday at Old Hilltop:

PIM Race 5 Skipat S. (12:43 et)

#3 My Sister Sue 6/1

#6 Akronism 8/5

#7 Drama Lady 3/1

#2 Ursala's Passion 10/1

Analysis: #3 My Sister Sue might get overlooked in here after making her last two starts at Penn and Chuckie Town. Last out she chased a very sharp runner in La Chica Rica, who went gate to wire and returned to win a $75K stake at Mountaineer on 5/13. The mare has a stakes win at Laurel and last year missed winning this race in a photo. Looks headed in the right direction and we should catch a fair price.

#6 Akronism set the early fractions and could not go with the winner late in a runner up finish in a $58K stake at Del Park last out. Owns solid early pace numbers and she looks back on track after coming up short two and three back at Oaklawn in stakes company. She has won 6 of 16 career starts and looks tough here although the price is likely going to be on the light side.

Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 3,6 / 2,3,6,7

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

PIM Race 7 Barbaro S. (2:06 et)

#1 Roman Emperor 8/5

#7 Wesley 5/1

#3 Spurrier 5/2

#5 Da' Tara 6/1

Analysis: #1 Roman Emperor was outrun in the early going and had to steady while down along the inside on the far turn and tired in the stretch to finish a well beaten seventh in the G1 Wood. The colt started off his three-year-old campaign with a couple of solid efforts, a third in the Count Fleet and a second in the Whirlaway. Cuts back in distance and faces a easier spot here. Figures to rebound with a better effort although price is going to short.

#7 Wesley went gate to wire for a good looking maiden win last out in his fourth career start. Two back ran second behind Groomedforvictory, who came back to win the NY bred Screenland Stakes in his next outing at Belmont on 5/7. This guy is getting good and was a $450K purchase, a half brother to Cloakof Vagueness ($433K).

Wagering

WIN: #1 to win at 8/5 or better.

EX: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7

TRI: 1,7 / 1,3,5,7 / 1,2,3,5,7

PIM Race 11 Dupont Distaff S. G2 (5:13 et)

#1 Altesse 9/2

#3 Peach Flambe 7/2

#4 Bear Now 5/1

#8 Silver Knockers 15/1

Analysis: #1 Altesse tracked the early pace and finished gamely while the pacesetter drifted out badly over a racing strip that was favoring speed. The Shug mare is going to move forward off that effort by a couple of lengths to get the job done here but looks up to the task.

#3 Peach Flambe won the Fla bred Cicada last out going nine furlongs at even money. It was not a real tough group she beat that day but she earned a solid number ands she figures to be right with the early pace here, likely sitting just off the pace set by our third choice. Her lone other start against graded stakes company came two back in the G2 Rampart and she set the early fractions and weakened to finish fifth while racing down along a dead rail.

Wagering

WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 1,3 / 1,3,4,8

TRI: 1,3 / 1,3,4,8 / 1,2,3,4,8,9

Preakness Day Longshots:

R1: #9 Love’s Strong Hart 12/1

R2: #3 Cryptogram 12/1

R3: #1 Celtic Innis 10/1

R5: #2 Ursala’s Passion 10/1

R6: #4 Lady Digby 8/1

R8: #10 Pete’s Wonder 12/1

R10: #3 Buffalo Man 8/1

R11: #8 Silver Knockers 15/1

R12: #8 Kentucky Bear 15/1

R12: #10 Riley Tucker 30/1

R13: #9 Jogalong 10/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

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