Padding Your Bankroll on July 30th

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.

Week Two of the Spa meeting gets underway today, with three stakes on the card. The opener is a steeplechase event that was rescheduled after it was washed off the grass last week.

Also on today’s card is the $80,000 De La Rose Stakes, a turf race for fillies and mares, which have not won a sweepstake on the turf in 2008.

The ninth race today is the $80,000 Fleet Indian Stakes, a seven furlong race for New York breds.

Both of the stakes races run on the flat are part of our $24 late Pick 3 play.

The play of the day is a first level allowance race on the turf. A field of ten will go 1 3/8 miles, and we just might have come up with a live one at a decent price:

Today's Play of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 6 Alw $76,000N1X (3:49 et)

#6 Titan of Industry 5/1

#4 Summer Patriot 3/1

#3 So It Goes 7/2

#7 Sky Dragon 8/1

Analysis: #6 Titan of Industry checked in fourth last out at Del Park in the $59K Stanton, getting caught in tight quarters in between foes on the far turn. Two back in the G3 Calder Derby the gelding had to steady behind runner son the far turn and was not a threat in the stretch. That race produced three next out winners. The gelding should be able to handle the 1 3/8 miles, by Giant's Causeway out of a stakes placed Deputy Minister mare who has dropped seven other winners, top earner Queen of Millbrook ($213K).

#4 Summer Patriot was no match for the winner Gravitational in a runner up finish. He had to steady in the early going and finished with some interest for second in a three-way photo. The winner came back to run a solid second against Alw-2 optional claimers on 7/16 at Belmont. He has five sibs that have won over $100K, top earner Deputy Diamond ($333K).

Wagering

WIN: #6 to win at 3/1 or better.

EX: 4,6 / 3,4,6,7

TRI: 4,6 / 3,4,6,7 / 1,3,4,5,6,7

Saratoga Late Pick 3

Starting in Race 8: $1: 1,2,6,7 / 1,7 / 4,5,9 = $24

SAR Race 7 Clm $35,000N2L (4:23 et)

#1 Frenchman's Cove, #12 Najibes Time, #7 Into the Wind, #8 All in No Outs

#1 Frenchman's Cove tracked the early pace from the inside and flattened out in the stretch to finish fourth, beaten four lengths for the top spot. The effort was coming off a four-month break and he may have needed a trip. The looks well spotted here dropping in for a tag for the first time in his career for Motion barn that won seven turf races here last summer. Barn has good numbers bringing runners back off a 31-60 day break (24% winners with a +ROI).

#12 Najibes Time put in a good effort in his first start against winners, checking in third versus $25K starter allowance foes at Del Park. The six year old is making just his fourth career start, yes he did not makes his debut until he was six. Barn won a race at the open house on 7/20 and has come back to win two more including Forever Together in the G1 Diana on 7/26. He is a half bro to Halo Najib ($297K).