Padding Your Bankroll on Thursday October 23
National horse racing handicapper Michael Dempsey will attempt to pad his bankroll and yours with his daily column. He will feature several plays of the day from major tracks along with coverage of major stakes races, longshots, and will keep you up to date on what is happening on the circuits he covers.
Most of the work for the 25th running of the Breeders’ Cup Championships is done, and now it is just time for trainers and owners (and bettors) to sit nervously until the action kicks off on Friday afternoon.
There is an outstanding ten race card on Friday at Santa Anita including the five Breeders’ Cup Races for fillies and mares.
In addition to the Breeders’ Cup races, the $250,000 Las Palmas Handicap (G2) for fillies and mares will go off as the eighth race.
Today would be a good day to go ahead and juice up your wagering account with a nice deposit. There is no sense in waiting until the last minute.
Here is an early look at two of the races on Friday’s card that will send us to our online wagering accounts as we attempt to pad our bankroll:
SA Race 6 BC Filly & Mare Turf G1 (2:35 pt)
#5 Wait a While 3/1
#7 Mauralakana 5/1
#8 Halfway to Heaven 4/1
#10 Pure Clan 15/1
Analysis: #5 Wait a While is coming off a sharp win in the G1 Yellow Ribbon and has won 3 of her last 4 starts, the lone loss coming over “good” ground in the G1 Diana. She is perfect over the turf here at 3 for 3. The mare owns a solid pace profile throughout and should get a good tracking trip sitting just off the pace. She has landed in the exacta in 11 of 14 career starts and is 3 for 4 at the distance. Pletcher seems to have her right if she jumps back up to her figure she earned two back in the G2 Ballston Spa (runner up Carriage Trail won the G1 Spinster in her next start) she is going to be tough in this spot.
#7 Mauralakana has matured into one of the top female turfers as a five year old and has bankrolled a cool $1 million so far this year. She was the beaten chalk last out in the G1 Flower Bowl, finishing second to #6 Dynaforce, who seems to like the yielding turf more. She is proven at the distance but did not run well over the turf here last year in the G1 Yellow Ribbon. She did not have much of an excuse that day but she is a much better runner this year.
#8 Halfway to Heaven invades from the other side of the pond for Aidan O’Brien and she is coming off a Group 1 win at Newmarket. She is a three time Group 1 winner and was 3 1/2 lengths behind the monster Zarkava back in May. She seems to like firmer ground and has tactical speed. She is a tough read here and just not sure how she will handle the firm turf at Santa Anita. If her price drifts up she deserves a look but at less than the 4/1 ML she looks less attractive.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 5,7,8,10
TRI: 5,7 / 5,7,8,10 / 3,4,5,7,8,10
SA Race 8 Las Palmas Hcp G2 (3:55 pt)
#13 Gotta Have Her 15/1
#1 Black Mamba 5/2
#8 Passified 8/1
#7 Kris’ Sis 8/1
Analysis: #13 Gotta Have Her put in a solid effort last out when dead heating for the runner up spot in the G2 Palomar last out at Del Mar. She was no match for #1 Black Mamba two back in the G2 Beverly Hills ‘Cap but she drew an outside post and 1 1/4 miles is not her best distance. She has run well over the turf here including winning a stake here last fall. She figures to be a generous price and she does not need to move forward all that much off her last effort to be in the mix here.
#1 Black Mamba is going to be the short pried favorite and she has the class. She was third last out behind Wait a While in the G1 Yellow Ribbon, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths for the top spot. Her efforts two back winning the G1 Mabee and the G2 Beverly Hills were rock solid. However, she did get beat in this race last year as the chalk and she is now 0 for 6 over the turf here.
Wagering
WIN: #13 to win at 8/1 or better.
EX: 1,13 / 1,7,8,13
TRI: 1,13 / 1,7,8,13 / 1,6,7,8,12,13
Good luck padding your bankroll today!
