in Triple Crown Free Picks

National horse racing handicapper Michael Dempsey will attempt to pad his bankroll and yours with his column. He will feature at least one Pick 4 play from a major track along with coverage of major stakes races, longshots, and will keep you up to date on what is happening on the circuits he covers. Don't miss Wednesday's report where Michael will keep you up to date with track bias reports for the major circuits.

Thursday turned out to be a pretty good day. We knocked down the late Pick 4 at Belmont Park, our top pick Sir Jackie got up in the last couple of strides and paid $6.10 for the win.

It's great when a plan works out.

It's off to Belmont Park for today's featured race of the day. We'll try to take down the late Pick 4 at Churchill Downs again. There are late post times at Churchill Downs (2:45 et) and Belmont Park (3:00 et) today. A good day to take off work early. Or make it easy and just call in sick.

Featured Race of the Day:

BEL Race 8 OClm $75,000N1X (6:36 et)

#4 Partida 5/1

#8 Ruban Bleu 5/2

#3 Unenchantedevening 6/1

#7 Lost Etiquette 8/1

Analysis: #4 Partida was a good looking maiden winner last out, drawing clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths as the chalk. Filly has plenty of pedigree to handle the stretch out to a mile. Jerkens barn is 25% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route.

#8 Ruban Bleu earned the top last out speed fig in game third in her first start against winners, beaten 1/2 length for the top spot. Mott filly owns a solid pace profile throughout and fits well here in this spot.

Race rating: $$$

Pick 4 of the Day: Churchill Downs Late Pick 4:

Starting in Race 8: $1: 1,2,3,5 / 4,5 / 3,4 / 2,4,9 = $48

CD Race 8 Clm $30,000N2L (6:18 et)

#2 Timeswept, #5 Pitch a Victory, #1 Royal Dazzle, #3 Phillips Pride

#2 Timeswept may have a chance here to pull off the upset. Last out she did not get much early pace to run at and checked in fourth at today's condition. Last out speed fig not much behind the logical contenders in here and she should see a much sharper pace in front of her here. She looks headed in the right direction and if she can handle the stretch for one turn to two she may be around late at a generous price. #5 Pitch a Victory made a mild late rally to finish third last out at Arlington over the poly, beaten a length for the top spot and earning the top last out speed fig in the effort. She is 0 for 2 since Amoss claimed this gal and she finds a good spot here. Barn having a real good meet, hitting at a 34% clip.

CD Race 9 Clm $25,000 (6:50 et)

#4 Picata, #5 High Speed Ali

#4 Picata drops into a better spot here after taking on $40K claimers on grass last out. Was sixth last out in race won by Interesting, who returned to beat Alw-1 foes in her next start on 5/31. The runner up also won her next outing, No Liores Catita beating $50K claimers on 6/6. Mare has done her best running on dirt and beat a good field of Alw-2 optional claimers three back at Oaklawn. Decent value if we see close to the 10/1 ML. #5 High Speed Ali set the early fractions and weakened to finish third last out against $20K foes. Was claimed out of the race by Moquette barn that is 33% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim.

CD Race 10 OClm $80,000N$Y (7:20 et)

#4 Honey Rose, #3 Lemons Forever

#4 Honey Rose set the early fractions and could not go with the winner in the stretch and settled for the runner up spot. The winner was Mauralakana, a nice filly from the Biancone barn that finished second in the G1 QEII last fall at Keeneland. Mare makes her second start off as 4 1/2 month break and will be tough to beat here at a light price. Pletcher is 30% winners (with a +ROI) with horses making their second start off a 45-180 day layoff. #3 Lemons Forever has not won a race since taking the G1 KY Oaks in May of '06. Expected to see a better effort last out in her turf debut but she checked in fifth near the back of the pack in a paceless race. She is by Lemon Drop Kid and deserves another look on grass.

CD Race 11 Clm $7,500 (7:50 et)

#4 Echo Location, #2 Runaway Chrissie, #9 To Order

#4 Echo Location steps up a notch off a sharp gate to wire score last out against $5K foes. Mare was coming off a three month break and now has landed in the exacta in 3 of 4 trips over the main track here. Owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and looks capable of wining right back. #2 Runaway Chrissie bobbled at the start last out and ended up in a dead heat for third behind a 10 length winner at the $10K level. mare seldom runs a bad one but has faced easier in most of her races including a few starts against Ohio breds.

Longshot Plays of the Day:

These are some price plays that should be watched today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

BEL R5: #8 Recapture 15/1

BEl R7: #1 Boysik / #1a Drinkwater 12/1

CD R1: #4 Ellerton 8/1

CD R4: #9 Lucky Sass 12/1

CD R8: #2 Timeswept 15/1

CD R9: #4 Picata 10/1

CD R11: #9 To Order 8/1

Weekly Track Bias Report Update For June 4 to June 10

6/7/07: edge to stalkers/closers, 3-5 paths, 0 gate to wire.

6/9/07: slight edge to stalkers/closers, 3-5 paths, 1 gate to wire.

6/7/07: slight edge to stalkers/closers, 3-5 paths, 0 gate to wire.

6/8/07: slight edge to runners off rail, 3-4 paths, 2 gate to wire.

6/9/07: edge to stalkes/closers, 3-5 paths, 0 gate to wire.

6/8/07: slight edge to stalkers/closers, 4-5 paths, 1 gate to wire.

6/4/07: slight edge to stalkers/closers, 3-4 paths, 1 gate to wire.

6/7/07: slight edge to stalkers/closers, 3-5 paths, 2 gate to wire.

6/9/07: slight edge to speed, 3 path in, 5 gate to wire.

Good luck padding your bankroll today!

MikeD

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