The Vet vs. The Kid racing picks for Sunday, June 21

The Vet vs. The Kid Handicapping Challenge

Oak Tree at Pleasanton

Day 4 – Sunday, June 21

This year we are having a unique challenge between Pleasanton Racing’s publicist/handicapper Dennis Miller and this year’s Oak Tree at Pleasanton intern Randy Olson. It is a contest that will ultimately benefit local charities.

Dennis and Randy have different philosophies on handicapping/betting, so in interest of fairness, we will start each of them with a $1,000 bankroll with each required to wager on a minimum of three races per day.

To make things even more interesting, Dennis and Randy were told just before opening day by Alameda County Fair CEO Jerome Hoban they would be playing with real money with the benefactors being local charities.

At the end of the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet, the money left in their accounts will be donated to a local charity of their choice.

Dennis has covered/handicapped the races at the Alameda County Fair for 25 years now. Formerly the Sports Editor of the Tri-Valley Herald, Dennis has been the year round Publicist for Pleasanton Racing for the last five years. He has written about races around the country, including the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup races.

Randy is a recent graduate of the much heralded Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona. This is Randy’s first year working at the Oak Tree at Pleasanton meet, but growing up in Humboldt County, Randy cut his wagering teeth on the summer fair circuit. Randy has spent time working for the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), taking him to assignments at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

Dennis picks for Day 4: I will start in the second race of the day with a $10 win/$20 place bet on Deputy Striker (4) out of the John Martin barn. He’s third, then first in Northern California since shipping up to Martin’s barn.

I will come back in the 4th race with Sir Perservere, again out Martin’s barn. Once again he shipped north and won for Martin. He does face better, but let’s put another $10 to win and $20 to place.

In the 6th race, let’s put down a $5 exacta box with Elmonte Cristo (1), Tiz Point (4) and Gnarly Dude (7).

The 9th race is another I like and want to put together a $20 win, $40 to place ticket on True Visionary (4). Steve Sherman seems to be lethal when he gets a SoCal shipper and this is one that he got off a break and won with. Russell Baze is back up again.

Finally in the 10th I have to go with Chutney, another SoCal shipper into Martin’s barn. He wins at 35 percent with first timers in his barn. Let’s go with the $20 win, $40 to place!

Sunday bankroll: $933.30; Day Four wagers: $210.

Randy’s picks for Day Four: In the second race of the day, I want a $30 win ticket on the No. 2 horse, Station House. After the drop in class this gelding won a 12.5K conditioned claimer at Golden Gate and has since switched barns to JB Josephson. Should be even better second off the long layoff. In addition in the second race, I want a $2 exacta with Station House keyed over the 1-4-5 for a $6 wager. I will strongly against Bodrum (3), the second choice on the morning line who I think will take some money, so I am going to try and hit an exacta where I key my top pick over most of the others.

In the third race, I want a $10 win/$20 place on Red the Fox (4). I am hoping this one will be on the lead or sitting right off of Sharp Hooq ready to pounce. Notice the works have been better since hitting the dirt at Pleasanton!

In the 6th race, I will go with another $10 win/$20 place on Tiz Point (4). Kent Molinaro is 25 percent with horses making their first start after a 61-180 day layoff the past five years. The horse is 0-2 on the dirt but those came in 2012 when he was facing stakes foes such as Creative Cause and Bodemiester in Southern California.

Finally in the seventh I will end with $15 win/$30 place on Compadre Sam (4). He was four wide around the bend in career start number one and was flying late. Should appreciate the extra half panel.

Sunday bankroll: $899.50; Sunday wagers: $116.

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