Horse Racing Picks December 18th

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.

With no racing at Aqueduct until Dec. 26, I like the idea of hanging out in the warm confines of Tampa Bay Downs this week.

The track is in its 83rd season this year, and the racing has never been better. The purses are at an all time high, and there will be nearly $3 million given out in stakes races this meeting, which runs until May 3.

I will attempt to pad our bankroll this week by coming up with three or four solid betting opportunities on the card.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 2

#7 Really Wonder chased the early pace and faded to finish seventh last out in the slop at Suffolk against Alw-2L foes. The filly drops in for a tag for the first time in her career and may bounce back with a better effort here in this softer spot. She broke her maiden by ten lengths in her second career start and has not been able to run back to that effort.

#1 Keep Running ships in from Calder where last out the filly set the early fractions while down along the inside and could not hold off the winner late, settling for the runner up spot. The winner of the race was Sauden Maiden, who beat $16K claimers in her next start on 12/5. The third place finisher Margaret Smile also was a next out winner, beating $12.5K foes on 12/15.

#8 Princess Vicar and #5 Badboy Brian likely will complete the exotics.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 4

#3 Bluegrass Girl tracked the early pace from the outside and faded to finish sixth last out against $10K non-winners of two as the beaten fav. She had no real excuse last out after finishing a good second two back against $20K non-winners of two. The winner of that race was Calling My Colors, who came back to beat $25K non-winners of three in her next outing on 11/26. She is getting a good jock switch from the 10-pound bugette to Amiss.

#9 Screening Room is making her first start since July where she was a non-factor last out against Alw-2X foes in her first start against winners. She was a smart looking maiden winner two back at Chuck Town going 4 ½ furlongs off a nine month layoff. Her local works since arriving from WV are on the slow side but she still appears to have some upside and she figures to be a decent price here.

#4 Saucon Meadow is dropping in class for Ritchey and #8 Ghazia exits a couple of highly graded races and is returning off the bench.

Tampa Bay Downs Race 6

#4 Broadway Knight is returning off a two month break and making his 11th career start here as he makes his first start for the Harvatt barn. The gelding showed little last out after a good second two back on the turf at Monmouth. The gelding had to steady in traffic nearing the ¼ pole and had “No Go” Frogoso aboard for his last two starts. I like the jock switch and the gelding finds what appears to be a soft spot.