Padding Your Bankroll on Thursday August 28

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 fourth race came up with a short field and the eighth race, which normally is part of our Late Pick 3 play, is a steeplechase race.

Therefore, we are going to mix things up today. Our Pick 3 play will be a $24 investment and starts in the fifth race.

The play of the day is the nightcap, which is a $40,000 claiming race on the turf. We have a couple of decent prices with my top two picks, and the race appears to have plenty of potential to pad our bankroll today.

Today's Play of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 10 Clm $40,000N3L (6:05 et)

#2 Amanyara 9/2

#5 Swamp Willow 8/1

#7 Frozen Prospect 3/1

#1 Frisky Rosie 8/1

Analysis: #2 Amanyara prompted the early pace and faded badly to finish eighth last out in the mud in a race taken off the turf. It was her first go off nearly a two-month break. She is better on turf and beat $62K claimers at Gulfstream back in April going a mile on the turf. Ward barn is 35% winners (with a +ROI) with horses making their second start off a 45-180 day layoff. Barn has been very live at the meeting, hitting with 7 of 19 starters.

#5 Swamp Willow makes her first start since July 4 where she got up late to beat $32K non-winners of two on good turf at Arlington. The runner up and fourth place finisher came out of that race to win next out. She sports four morning works over turf since arriving in NY and in good hands with the underrated Proctor barn.

Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 2,5 / 1,2,5,7

TRI: 2,5 / 1,2,5,7 / 1,2,4,5,7,8

Saratoga Pick 3 Play:

Starting in Race 5: $1: 2,7 / 2,3,6,8 / 1,6,10 = $24

SAR Race 5 OClm $100,000C (3:13 et)

#2 Steve's Double, #7 Formal Decree

#2 Steve's Double makes his first start since checking in a good third in the G2 Firecracker behind a couple of solid turf horses in Thorn Song and Einstein. The gelding wrapped up '07 with three consecutive wins including the G3 Perryville at Keeneland. The gelding caught a yielding turf for his first go over the weeds and getting beaten less than two lengths by a G2 and a G1 runner was not too shabby. Figures to move forward with firmer footing and the easier spot.

#7 Formal Decree was boxed in traffic early on and then angled to the outside and took over the lead. Was caught late, coming up just a neck shy of the top spot. The gelding is a G3 winner and G1 placed. The barn is 31% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +90 day layoff.

SAR Race 6 Md Sp Wt (3:47 et)

#3 Remedy, #6 Belle Jour, #2 Southern Oaks, #8 Imandra

#3 Remedy dueled for the early lead while down along the inside, took a bad step at the half mile pole, continued on and gave way in mid stretch to finish eighth. The filly was dead on the board, sent off at 10/1 in her unveiling, a tepid price considering the connections. She is by Lion Heart out of a mare that has dropped three other foals to race, all winners, top earner War Wolf ($75K). The barn is 23% winners with second timers.