Padding Your Bankroll on Friday August 29

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 final weekend at Saratoga is upon us, and we have a late post time on Friday, the first race kicking off at 2:45 ET.

Today’s play of the day is a $50,000 maiden claimer and we will invest a modest $16 in our Late Pick 3 play.

We start the three race sequence with a single. Bittel Road is the 2/1 morning line favorite and looks like he can handle stakes company.

We will need to catch a price in one of the final two legs to sufficiently pad our bankroll.

Today's Play of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 5 Md $50,000 (4:49 et)

#2 Natty Meboy 4/1

#11 Early Response 7/2

#4 Sweet Groom 12/1

#1 Paramedic / #1a Doughdaddy 5/2

Analysis: #2 Natty Meboy dueled for the early lead while down along the inside and faded to finish a well beaten seventh last out off a two month break. The runner up and third place finisher exited that race to graduate in their next starts. The gelding checked in third in his debut and was claimed out of the race by Schwartz barn. Back in for a tag here while picking up Edgar. Owns solid early and mid pace numbers and breaking from the rail expecting to see Edgar put this guy on the lead.

#11 Early Response was beaten just a nose in his debut, finishing ahead of four of these. It was a three way photo and the trip was better than six lengths clear of the rest of the field. The barn is 15% winners with second timers.

Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 3/1 or better.

EX: 2,11 / 1,2,4,11

TRI: 2,11 / 1,2,4,11 / 1,2,4,5,6,11

Saratoga Pick 3 Play:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 2 / 2,3,5,7 / 6,7,10,14 = $16

SAR Race 7 With Anticipation (6:03 et)

#2 Bittel Road

#2 Bittel Road went gate to wire top break his maiden going six furlongs on the turf at Belmont and was just under a hand ride and shown the whip in the stretch. The colt was a 4340K purchase and has enough pedigree to handle the stretch out, by Storm Atlantic out of a Sultry Song mare. He is one of three in here sent out by Pletcher and Johnny V., who was aboard all three lands on the morning line fav here.

SAR Race 8 OClm $75,000C (6:36 et)

#7 Timber Reserve, #3 Extreme Supreme, #5 Greeley's Legacy, #2 Sam P.

#7 Timber Reserve prompted the early pace and faded to finish ninth last out in the G1 Whitney, which was his first start off a six month layoff. This colt won the G2 Pa. Derby last fall at nine furlongs earning a 105 Beyer. The colt has posted three works since his last outing and looks well spotted here dropping into the optional claiming level. Kimmel is having a tough meet (1 for 19) and is 3 for 11 (with a +ROI) with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff. Expecting to see this colt wake up with a good effort here second off the bench.