Padding Your Bankroll for Friday August 8

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.

The rains came half way through the card at Saratoga on Thursday, making the track sloppy. Mother Nature just does not seem to want to give the horse race Spa meeting a break. There is a 50% chance of more rain overnight and a 60% chance of rain on Friday.

We have a good chance of padding our bankroll with today’s play of the day. We are going with a longshot from the David Carroll barn that scored with a first timer on yesterday’s card that paid $39.00.

We will invest $24 in our late Pick 3 play, which starts off with the $80,000 Waya Stakes.

Today's Play of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 5 Md Sp Wt (3:13 et)

#3 Song of Charm 12/1

#7 Warm Shower 7/2

#1 River Fancy / #1a Platinum Girl 8/1

#9 Silver Reunion 6/1

Analysis: #3 Song of Charm is a $160K Keeneland purchase making her second career start and first start on turf for Carroll barn that is 26% winners (with a +ROI) with second timers. The filly is out of the mare Raging Apalachee, who has dropped six winners with two turf winners. Her most famous offspring is multiple graded stakes winner Artax, who earned $1.7 million but did it all on dirt. Like the jock switch here to Leparoux and the price should be right.

#7 Warm Shower is a $700K buy making her debut for Penna barn that is showing a 0 for 15 mark with firsters. If we go back farther, the numbers don't get much better, 1 for 36 over the past five years. However, this gal has a nice pedigree, by Dynaformer out of the stakes winner Caught in the Rain, who was a six-time winner on turf. This is her first foal to race.

Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 9/2 or better.

EX: 3,7 / 1,3,7,9

TRI: 3,7 / 1,3,7,9 / 1,3,4,7,8,9

Saratoga Pick 3 Play

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

SAR Race 8 Waya S. (4:55 et)

#1 Caprice, #6 Tejida

#1 Caprice was far back early and made a good late run after being blocked briefly along the inside turning for home. it was her first go in the U.S. and for Motion barn that won seven turf races here at the Spa last summer. She won a race at 1 1/2 miles in France last fall. The barn is overdue to pick up a win after starting the meeting 0 for 14.

#6 Tejida set the early fractions and weakened to finish fourth last out in the G2 New York going 1 1/4 miles. Her lone go at today's distance was two back when she set the early fractions and held on gamely for second, beaten a half-length for the top spot in the G2 Bewitch at Keeneland. She looks tough here but the price is going to be on the short side.

SAR Race 9 OClm $75,000N2X (5:30 et)

#4 Winning Point, #2 Striking Tomisue, #1 Gem South

#4 Winning Point set the early fractions, was bumped but eh eventual winner and held on gamely for the runner up spot against Alw-3 optional claimers in her first go off an 11 month layoff. She has not missed landing in the exacta in eight career starts including a runner up finish in the G2 Delaware Oaks where she was beaten a head for the top spot. Blinkers go on as she cuts back to seven furlongs. She drops a condition her and looks tough at a light price. She has a strong off track pedigree.