Padding Your Bankroll on Saturday August 23

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.

Fans heading to Saratoga Springs for Travers Day will be greeted by glorious weather and a 12 race card featuring four graded stakes.

For horse betters playing the Spa on Saturday, there is a $1 million Guaranteed All Stakes Pick 4, and the races will be televised on ESPN in a 90-minute telecast starting at 4:30 ET.

Here is a quick look at the four races making up the Pick 4:

Race 8: The $100,000 Victory Ride (G3) kicks off the stakes action. The six furlong race for three year old fillies drew a field of eight, with Indyanne the 6/5 morning line favorite.

The Greg Gilchrist filly ran huge last out in the Azalea Stakes at Calder, drawing clear to win by 9 ½ lengths and earned a 108 Beyer. She ran her record to a perfect four for four, and has won the four races by a combined 32 lengths.

There are a couple of fillies in the race that have a chance to pull off the upset. Informed Decision bat Alw-2 optional claimers in her last start earning a 101 Beyer, but did it over polytrack at Keeneland.

Both Porte Bonheur and Sly Storm have ability but likely will need a career top to beat the morning line favorite.

Race 9: The $200,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) is the only turf race in the four-race sequence making up the Pick 4. Thorn Song is the 3/1 morning line favorite.

Trained by Dale Romans, the five year old is coming off a third place finish in the Fourstardave Handicap (G2) over yielding turf. He won a pair of turf races here last summer in the allowance ranks.

The horse to watch is Bobby Frankel’s Proudinsky. He is better than he showed last out in his New York debut where he checked in a non-threatening 11th in the Manhattan Handicap (G1).

The five year old has landed in the exacta in 7 of his 11 starts on grass including a win in the Muniz Jr. Handicap at Fair Grounds in March.

Shakis is back to defend his title in this race, but in three starts this year appears to have lost a step or two.

Race 10: The $250,000 King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) is restricted to three year olds and is contested at seven furlongs on the main track.

A fast pace may set things up for Kodiak Kowboy, who beat Desert Key by a head last out in winning the Amsterdam (G2) here on July 28. It was his first start for trainer Larry Jones, who took over the training duties from Steve Asmussen.

The colt will run as part of an entry with Lantana Mob, who was third last out in the Carry Back (G2) at Calder.

Look for J Be K to be on the front early but the speedy colt likely won’t have things easy as there is plenty of early speed signed up to go here.

The Steve Asmussen trainee won the Jersey Shore (G3) at Monmouth Park in his last outing.