posted April 3, 2008 at 13:26 EST in Triple Crown Articles

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.

Things will heat up this weekend with major Derby preps at Santa Anita, Aqueduct, and Hawthorne. In addition, Keeneland opens for its spring meeting on Friday, and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes is just over a week away.

I will be adding Keeneland to the mix for opening day in Friday’s edition of Padding Your Bankroll.

For today, let’s head out to the Big A for today’s featured race of the day:

Today's Featured Race of the Day:

AQU Race 8 Alw $47,000 (4:25 et)

#6 Alexandros 2/1

#3 Chernobyl's Hero 8/1

#5 Almighty Silver 7/2

#1 Rodando 15/1

Analysis: #6 Alexandros chased the early pace and hung in the stretch in a third place finish, beaten 4 1/2 lengths for the top spot. The ridgling checked in second two and three back and has landed in the money in 8 of his 10 career starts including a third in the state bred Damon Runyon last December. He broke his maiden over the surface here at today's D/S and moving off the inner may suit this guy, who comes in here in decent form.

#3 Chernobyl's Hero is another that seems to be in the mix just about every time out without winning, landing in the money in 9 of 19 starts with just maiden win on his resume. This guy also broke his maiden on the main track here.

Wagering

WIN: #6 to win at 9/5 or better.

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

TRI: 3,6 / 1,3,5,6 / 1,3,5,6,7

Aqueduct Late Pick 3

Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,2,5,6 / 6 / 2,3,6,9 = $16

AQU Race 7 Clm $35,000 (3:55 et)

#6 Play N Hooky, #1 Karakorum Playmate / #1a Karakorum Surprise, #5 Ommadon's Storm, #2 My Luckey Penney

#6 Play N Hooky is back in for a tag after failing to fire last out versus Alw-1 foes, a well beaten seventh. That outing came off a three month break and now she returns off a two month freshening and adds blinkers. Two back she showed some early zip before tiring to finish fourth at Finger Lakes in a $50K stake. Put in a good breeze on 3/29 and in good hands with Parisella.

#1 Karakorum Playmate set the early fractions and drew off to break her maiden last out, catching a inner surface that was kind to speed. She appears to be on the improve but there is plenty of early speed in here to keep her company and she may have to do her running sitting just off the pace.

AQU Race 8 Alw $47,000 (4:25 et)

#6 Alexandros

(for analysis see today’s featured race)

AQU Race 9 Md $25,000 (4:55 et)

#6 Little Dillon, #9 Timber Ferry, #2 Say Karakorum Sandy, #3 Flirtatious Freud

#6 Little Dillon put in a near bullet work out of the gate on 3/29 over the training track at Belmont and looks well prepped for his debut here for Barbara barn that is showing a 1 for 15 mark with first time starters. Not much to go on pedigree wise, by new sire Adios My Friend, who has not had a debut winner to date, out of a mare that went 1 for 7 in her career, her first foal to race. Not a tough spot here for his unveiling.

#9 Timber Ferry made a good late rally to finish third last out, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot and earning the top last out speed fig in the effort. Logical threat here for sharp barn although price will be light.

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: #3 Avagadro 8/1

AQU R2: #2 Sapphire Eyes 10/1

AQU R2: #4 Lord Tik Tik 12/1

AQU R4: #3 Put Him Back 15/1

AQU R4: #7 Gold West 8/1

AQU R5: #4 Morereadythannot 12/1

AQU R6: #7 Beach City 15/1

AQU R7: #5 Ommadon’s Storm 10/1

AQU R7: #2 My Luckey Penney 15/1

AQU R8: #3 Chernobyl’s Hero 8/1

AQU R8: #1 Rodando 15/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

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