posted April 25, 2008 at 13:08 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.

It’s closing day at Keeneland on Friday, and there is a Pick 6 carryover pool of $375,412, which must be paid out since it is the last day of the meeting.

The feature is a marathon turf race, the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes.

Saturday is opening day at Churchill Downs, and we are just eight days from the Kentucky Derby. The 52-day meeting kicks off with the $100,000 Derby Trial Stakes.

Today’s feature is the Elkhorn, and we’ll invest $24 in the Late Pick 3 at the Big A.

Today's Play of the Day from Keeneland:

KEE Race 9 Elkhorn S. G2 (5:10 et)

#11 Drilling for Oil 8/1

#5 Dancing Forever 5/1

#2 Stream of Gold 5/2

#7 Brass Hat 15/1

Analysis: #11 Drilling for Oil is coming off a runner up finish in the G3 Pan American behind a loose on the lead gate to wire winner. He finished behind some of these two back when fifth behind Stream of Gold but was only beaten two lengths for the top spot. His top two Beyers came last spring in KY, both triple digit Beyers at today's 1 1/2 mile distance. The five year old is reunited with Kent who was aboard this guy for his last win, which came at Churchill in the G3 Louisville 'Cap. Worth a look if we see close to the 8/1 ML.

#5 Dancing Forever is coming off a career top earned in a neck loss to Einstein in the G1 Gulfstream Park 'Cap. The winner came back to run a good second in the G1 Makers Mark here on 4/11. Shug good bringing runners back off short breaks.

Wagering

WIN: #11 to win at 4/1 or better.

EX: 5,11 / 2,5,7,11

TRI: 5,11 / 2,5,7,11 / 2,4,5,6,7,11

Aqueduct Late Pick 3

Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,6 / 2,3,4 / 3,6,8,9 = $24

AQU Race 7 Clm $60,0000 (3:55 et)

#6 Amenable, #1 National Chaplain / #1a Nkosi Reigns

#6 Amenable is a seven year old making his first start since last September for Goldberg barn that is showing a 1 for 14 mark with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. A four-time winner on turf, he earned solid numbers two and three back, a close up fourth in the G3 Red Bank and a victory versus Alw-3 optional claimers. He has run okay in his career off the bench and figures to be overlooked on the tote here.

#1 National Chaplain made a mild late bid to finish third last out against conditioned allowance foes at Keeneland over yielding footing. Was competitive in graded stakes company three and four back and is a logical threat here at a light price.

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

#2 August Rex, #3 Run With Me, #4 All Expenses Paid

#2 August Rex was bumped coming out of the gate, sent up to vie for the early led and finished gamely to break his maiden in his debut by two lengths. The effort looks even better now that the third and fourth place finishers both came back to graduate in their next starts. $90K purchase is in good hands with Levine barn that is 28% winners (with a +ROI) with second time starters.

#3 Run With Me earned the top last out speed fig in a runner up finish behind a gate to wire winner in the fog going seven furlongs. Colt owns a solid pace profile throughout and his form looks very good if we draw a line through his effort two back in the slop.

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

#8 Burnished Copper, #9 Poker God, #6 Piazza Di Spagna, #3 Don't Fooli Houli

#8 Burnished Copper is back from Gulfstream, last out catching a slow start and a bum post in a fifth place finish against $80K maiden claimers. Two back finished well for third in his first go off a three-month break. Makes his third start of his current form cycle for sharp connections. #9 Poker God sprinted in his last start, which came at Fair Grounds. was off last and raced wide much of the trip in a fifth place finish. Back with state breds here.

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.

Aqueduct

R1: #7 Desert Quest 15/1

R2: #4 Casa Dynamite 10/1

R3: #2 So Glitzy 10/1

R4: #7 J J’s Prophet 8/1

R4: #2 Fijonnes 10/1

R6: #7 Bourbon Street 12/1

R7: #5 Thunder Pass 8/1

R8: #4 All Expenses Paid 8/1

R9: #9 Poker God 8/1

R9: #6 Piazza Di Spagna 8/1

Keeneland

R2: #5 Miss Stack 12/1

R3: #8 Radio Relay 8/1

R3: #1 Sherif 10/1

R3: #3 Nolan’s Territory 10/1

R4: #9 Golden K 12/1

R5: #6 Simply Seattle 12/1

R5: #5 Sweet Solitude 10/1

R6: #6 Ease 12/1

R7: #9 Shive’s Success 8/1

R7: #6 King of Rhythm 10/1

R9: #11 Drilling for Oil 8/1

R9: #7 Brass Hat 15/1

R10: #12 Hometown Boy 12/1

R10: #7 Sultry Approval 15/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

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