Horse Racing - Making Money on the Sunshine Millions

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 during the week and covers major stakes races on the weekends.

The Sunshine Millions is a eight race series of races with Florida breds facing off against California breds for bragging rights and $3.6 million in purses.

Points are allocated so that the winner of each of the eight races receives five points. Each second place winner will receive three points and one point is awarded for third place. At the end of the day, the results are tallied for 1st, 2nd & 3rd in all eight races and the state with the most points wins.

What does that mean to those of us wagering on the races?

Nothing, we just want to pad our bankroll.

Here are two of the best wagering races on the day:

Gulfstream Park Race 10 Sunshine Millions Classic (5:45 ET)

#3 Macho Again

#12 Delightful Kiss

#1 Finallymadeit

#2 Dream Maestro

#3 Macho Again came off a three month break last out and did not factor in a sixth place finish in his turf debut in the Woodchopper. The race serves as a tune up here as this guy seems better suited for the main track anyway. Two back he was the beaten chalk in the G2 Super Derby. He was tracking the early pace while down along the inside and had to steady on the far turn losing some position, then finished well when angled out for the stretch drive. The colt seems to bounce back off sub par efforts, much like he did when he won the G2 Jim Dandy at today’s nine furlongs distance after finishing a non threatening fifth in the G1 Belmont. He won the Derby Trial last year off a 12-length defeat in his previous start. Desormeaux sticks and this guy figures to be tighter second off the bench.

#12 Delightful Kiss broke poorly and went from last to first to win the G3 Hal’s Hope last out in a one-turn mile over the surface here. Two back this guy was a good second sandwiched between a pair of solid G1 winners in Einstein and Commentator. The gelding should get some pace to run at here and the outside post could be a problem but good to see Borel up. The jock likely takes him back and tucks him to the rail in the early going to save ground.

Wagering

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

EX: 3,12 / 1,2,3,12

TRI: 3,12 / 1,2,3,12 / 1,2,3,8,9,12

Santa Anita Race 9 Sunshine Millions Distaff (3:57 PT)

#3 Leah’s Secret

#11 Tiz a Blend

#7 Unforgotten

#9 Dawn After Dawn

#3 Leah’s Secret makes her first start since winning the G2 Top Flight ‘Cap at Aqueduct going a mile. She has done her best running going one turn on dirt and now she goes two turns on the fake stuff. She did finish a good second over poly at Arlington in the G3 Matron last May going nine furlongs. She also won the G2 Raven Run on poly at Keeneland going seven furlongs. She has prepped quickly in the mornings at Palm Meadows and looks like a good spot here for the Pletcher barn.